§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services by how many the total numbers of staff of the Committee on the Safety of Medicines have expanded since its inception; by how many the numbers of staff have expanded in the sections concerned with monitoring old and new drugs; and what are the numbers of doctors employed overall, and in each section.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe total number of staff predominantly or exclusively engaged in supporting the Committee on Safety of Medicines has risen by nine since the Committee's inception in 1971. The number of staff concerned with monitoring drugs on the market has risen by two in the same period. In 1971, before the208W implementation of the Medicines Act, the medical staff of the division involved solely in scrutiny of products before marketing, monitoring of adverse reactions, and certain duties imposed on it under the now repealed Therapeutic Substances Act numbered 14. Currently the medical staff has a complement of 20. Three are involved in the review of medicines which we are committed to conducting in accordance with EEC requirements. In addition, certain surgical and dental materials have been brought within the scope of the Medicines Act and one doctor and one dentist are involved in this work. Thirteen doctors are at present involved within work in support of the Committee on Safety of Medicines, of whom three are engaged full-time in the monitoring of adverse reactions, and there is a vacant post.