§ Dr. Starkey:To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations his Department has made to the European Commission in response to the G10 Medicines (High Level Group on Innovation and the Provision of Medicines) report. [128737]
§ Ms Rosie Winterton:The GIO Report, presented to President Prodi in May 2002, was produced by a group of European Ministers and leading figures from the pharmaceutical industry, patients' representatives, and European social insurance institutions. The United Kingdom played a key role, being represented by my noble Friend the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health. The European Commission has now produced a Communication to the Council, the European Parliament, and other Institutions (COM 2003/383) This document is mailable in the Library with an Explanatory Memorandum from the Department of Health.
These matters are being discussed in both the Health and Competitiveness Councils. My noble Friend Lord Warner, is a member of the G10, working towards the achievement of our policy objectives in relation to the pharmaceutical sector.