§ Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, for each National Health Service hospital with over 250 beds, how many functions sponsored by pharmaceutical companies were organised on the hospital premises in the latest available period.
§ Mr. MoyleThe information requested is not available. Meetings in hospitals at which the uses of a pharmaceutical company's products are explained are regarded as sales promotion activities. Expenditure on the organising of such meetings is therefore counted as part of a company's total expenditure on sales promotion. The amount of this that can be accepted as a cost in the price of medicines supplied to the NHS is limited in accordance with my right hon. Friend's announcement to the press on 22nd July 1976.