§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the annual budget is for(a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002 and (d) 2003 for the Special Unit to investigate possible breaches of regulations on the internet set up within the Medicines Control Agency's Enforcement Group. [39019]
§ Ms BlearsThe Special Enquiry Unit forms part of the Enforcement Group within the Medicines Control Agency. The budget for the Group is set at approximately £1,600,000 per annum.
§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) full-time and (b) part-time members are in the Medicines Control Agency's Enforcement Group Special Unit to investigate possible breaches of regulations on the internet. [39020]
§ Ms BlearsFollowing the absorption of the Special Enquiry Unit into the main investigation area in 2001 the number of officers assigned to internet investigations, has varied according to the assessed public health risk.
§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what(a) supporting and (b) co-ordinating activities have been undertaken by the Medicines Control Agency for the International Forum on Pharmaceutical Crime established in Ottawa in 1999 that relate to the sale of licensed and unlicensed medicines via the internet. [38819]
§ Ms BlearsThere have been four meetings of the International Forum on Pharmaceutical Crime since its foundation in 1998 at Sunningdale, with subsequent conferences in Ottawa 1999, Holland 2000 and Washington 2001.
298WMedicines Control Agency (MCA) was the co-ordinator for the initial conference and provided the main co-ordination facility for the subsequent conferences.
Internet crime has been discussed by the Forum.
One of the last initiatives undertaken was an international internet sweep, for which the Office of Fair Trading was the United Kingdom's co-ordinator in February 2002. MCA was directly involved.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission are co-ordinating the global results. Relevant cases in breach of UK legislation will be forwarded to the MCA for further investigations.
§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Special Unit to investigate possible breaches of regulations on the internet was set up within the Medicines Control Agency's Enforcement Group. [39021]
§ Ms BlearsThe Special Enquiry Unit of the Medicines Control Agency Enforcement Group, was originally set up in 1998 to investigate offences involving the sale and supply of Viagra. The unit then developed the necessary competence to investigate internet crime. After this initial phase the unit was absorbed into the main investigation area in October 2001. However, investigation of internet offences remains a high priority.