§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to fund further clinical trails of beta interferon if NICE were to recommend them. [95157]
§ Mr. DenhamEach case will be considered on its merits, but the presumption will be that research which is reasonably required to assess the clinical and cost effectiveness of products for use in the NHS should be funded by the relevant company. Under certain circumstances, some funding from the public sector may be appropriate, for example where there is no clear sponsoring company for an intervention to be appraised by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. The Department will make sure that, under such circumstances, any research falling to the public purse is taken forward by the appropriate body.