§ 51. Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she is prepared to meet representatives of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.
§ Mrs. CastleMy Department is in regular touch with the association at official level. If it has matters which it wishes to discuss with Ministers personally, we are of course ready to meet it.
§ 52. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when she intends to announce her plans for the public ownership of the pharmaceutical industry.
§ Mr. Berryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when she expects to announce proposals to bring parts of the pharmaceutical industry into public ownership.
§ Mrs. CastleAny proposals for public participation in the pharmaceutical industry will be in line with national industrial policy and are for formulation when this has been announced by the Government.
§ Mr. Berryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will take steps to encourage investment in the pharmaceutical industry during the period before she announces her proposals for bringing parts of the industry into public ownership.
§ Mrs. CastleInvestment in industry is a matter primarily for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry. In the discharge of my sponsorship responsibilities for the medical supply industries I shall continue to encourage any activity tending to improvement in industrial performance of the pharmaceutical sector.