§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether she will make a statement on the shortage of insulin;
(2) whether she will take steps to ensure the adequacy of the supply of insulin in chemists' shops.
§ Dr. OwenThere have been some short-term production difficulties, now on the way to being overcome with one form of insulin, but shortfalls have been made up from other sources. As far as I am aware there has been no general shortage of insulin in retail chemists' shops but I understand that distribution difficulties in Northern Ireland with the same form of insulin are being dealt with by the Department of Health and Social Services of Northern Ireland.