§ 55. Mr. Giles Shawasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with his Department's relationship with the pharmaceutical industry.
§ Mr. EnnalsAs I stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) on 11th January—[Vol. 923, c.442–3]—my policy is to sustain the existing close relationship between the Government and the industry with the objects of continuing to ensure the supply and responsible promotion of safe and effective medicines for the NHS at reasonable prices; and to encourage the development of the industry through investment, research and the growth of its already substantial export trade. The Government and the industry have differing views on how some of these objectives might be achieved, but I hope that these will not affect the close relationship, without which differences would never be satisfactorily resolved.