§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the names of the leading British companies exporting medical drugs, the value of the exports for the past five years for which figures are available, and the areas of the world and countries to which they export.
§ Mr. MoyleLeading British-owned companies exporting drugs include Beecham, Boots, Fisons, Glaxo, ICI, Reckitt and Colman and Wellcome. Neither the value of drugs exported by these companies nor details of the recipient countries are available centrally. Total drug exports by all companies, including foreign owned subsidiaries, have been as follows: 1974—£278.5 million; 1975—£341.2 million; 1976—£414.0 million; 1977—£504.1 million; 1978—(estimate) £654 million; and there are few areas of the world to which drugs are not exported.