§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department made of the arithmetical accuracy of the tables made available by Professor Spitzer on 9 October 1995. [19191]
§ Mr. MaloneThe tables provided by Professor Spitzer were assessed by experts on the Committee on Safety of Medicines.
§ Mr. HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what safeguards are in place to ensure that the advice of the Committee on Safety of Medicines is independent. [19190]
§ Mr. MaloneThe Committee on Safety of Medicines is an independent body of drug safety experts. Following consultation with appropriate organisations and on the recommendation of the Medicines Commission, its members are appointed by the United Kingdom Health Ministers—the Licensing Authority.
Members do not represent organisations, but contribute by their individual expertise and judgment to the advice given by the committee to the licensing authority. In addition, members are required to follow a code of practice on relations with the pharmaceutical industry and to declare their interests which are published annually.
§ Mr. HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many resignations have been received from staff of(a) the Medicines Control Agency and (b) the Committee on Safety of Medicines since 1 October 1995. [19184]
§ Mr. MaloneThe Medicines Control Agency has received six resignations since 1 October 1995; while the Committee on Safety of Medicines has received none.