§ 48. Mr. Pavittasked the Minister of Health what study he has made of the effect of the production of drugs by the State in Sweden, particulars of which 251W have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Willesden, West, upon the prices of other drugs available in that country; and if he will now consider establishing a publicly owned factory to supply effective competition in the production of those drugs most commonly purchased through the National Health Service.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonMy inquiries suggest that production of drugs by the State in Sweden is on an extremely limited scale and not such as to affect the prices of proprietary preparations which, there as here, account for most of the cost of drugs. I see no reason at present to differ from the view of the Sainsbury Committee, which did not recommend the establishment of a publicly owned factory in this country.