HC Deb 11 May 1995 vol 259 cc572-3W
Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations she has had regarding National Epilepsy Week; what financial support her Department has given and will be giving to National Epilepsy Week; and if she will make a statement; [22844]

(2) pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) of 17 January, Official Report, column 576, what progress her Department is making with any new initiatives for people with epilepsy; and if she will make a statement. [22920]

Mr. Bowis

Since January of this year, the Department of Health has been working with the voluntary sector on an epilepsy initiative which includes National Epilepsy Week. We will officially launch the week on 15 May and we have commissioned a series of posters to publicise the Week and to raise awareness of epilepsy generally. During the week we are sponsoring a large multidisciplinary conference, on epilepsy in London.

These events are only part of the Government's current initiative. We have so far provided £144,000 for voluntary organisation projects over the next three years and £95,000 for two innovative epilepsy service development projects. The Joint Epilepsy Council is producing a booklet for young people with epilepsy and the Royal College of General Practitioners is working on new guidelines, on epilepsy, for general practitioners.

Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 9 March,Official Report, column 320, how many of the 96 products licensed for the treatment of epilepsy between 1991 and 1995 were (a) new chemical entity products, (b) variations on existing products and (c) products that received a product licence, parallel import; and if she will place the names of the 96 products in the Library. [22921]

Mr. Sackville

Records from the Medicines Control Agency show that of the 96 products licensed for the treatment of epilepsy between 1991 and 1995, eight were new chemical entities, 69 were variations, through abridged licences, on existing products and 19 were products that received a product licence, parallel import.

A list of the information requested will be placed in the Library.

Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 9 March,Official Report, column 320, how many of the 90 products licensed for the treatment of epilepsy between 1985 and 1990 were (a) new chemical entity products, (b) variations on existing products and (c) products that received a product licence, parallel import; and if she will place the names of the 90 products in the Library. [22922]

Mr. Sackville

Records from the Medicines Control Agency show that, of the 90 products licensed for the treatment of epilepsy between 1985 and 1990, one was a new chemical entity product, 30 were variations, through abridged licences, on existing products and 59 were products that received a product licence, parallel import.

A list of the information requested will be placed in the Library.