§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will make a statement about the provision of the drug Depo Provera to Third world countries, as part of the population programme, or in any other capacity affecting her Department; and, in view of the doubts expressed on the safety of the drug by the United States Food and Drugs Administration, 520W what safeguards she is taking to ensure that the recipients of this drug are informed of possible risks.
§ Mrs. HartDepo Provera has been approved for use as a general contraceptive by a number of countries. The United Kingdom licensing authorities, on the advice of the Committee on Safety of Medicines, have approved its use only on a doctor's prescription for short-term contraception in certain limited circumstances. They consider its long-term use to be inadvisable.
I personally considered its provision under the aid programme two years ago, and took account of the views of the International Planned Parenthood Federation. I would be prepared to provide it to a developing country on request in the context of a population project, but would take positive steps to ensure that the Government concerned were aware of the status of the drug in the United Kingdom.