§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to ensure the continuity of production and supply of essential drugs currently manufactured outside the United Kingdom in the years covered by millennium computer compliance problems; [29506]
(2) what discussions he has had with non-UK based companies who provide essential drugs and services to the National Health Service about their millennium compliance status. [29507]
§ Mr. Milburn[holding answer 13 February 1998]: The responsibility for ensuring the continuity of supply of essential drugs and services to National Health Service organisations over the millennium date change rests with the chief executive of each organisation, who will be seeking assurances of continuity of supply from suppliers. Where those assurances are inadequate, alternative suppliers will be used or other contingency plans used.
To avoid unnecessary duplication of effort in liaising with suppliers, central organisations such as NHS Supplies will be contacting major suppliers and making the results known to all NHS organisations. Furthermore, a central contingency stock plan is being developed by NHS Supplies in conjunction with regional offices.