HC Deb 21 January 1980 vol 977 cc15-6W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the first time the sex drug Androcur was used on prisoners; and if this was before it received its product licence.

Mr. Whitelaw

Androcur has been used in Europe since 1967. It was made available to doctors practising in the United Kingdom in 1970 following the granting of a clinical trial certificate and was subsequently used by a number of consultant psychiatrists working in the National Health Service and by one consultant psychiatrist working in both the National Health Service and a prison. The drug was granted a product licence in January 1974.

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have participated in the testing of the drug LSD.

Mr. Whitelaw

None.

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will disclose the list of drugs, without product licence, tested on prisoners in Great Britain.

Mr. Whitelaw

Cyproterone acetate (Androcur) which was granted a product licence in January 1974, was used by one consultant psychiatrist working in prisons between 1970 and 1974. Benperidol (Anguil), which was granted a product licence in July 1973, was used by doctors working in prisons between 1971 and 1973, after the Committee on Safety of Drugs had authorised the manufacturers to dispense it on the prescription of any registered medical practitioner.

Both drugs had been used overseas and in the National Health Service before they were used in prisons.

I am not aware of any other drugs having been prescribed by doctors working in prisons in England and Wales before they had been granted product licences.

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the drug Benperidol was first used on prisoners; whether it was used before it received a product licence; and whether it is still administered by prison medical officers.

Mr. Whitelaw

Benperidol was first prescribed by a doctor working in prison in 1971 after the Committee on Safety of Drugs had authorised the manufacturers to dispense it on the prescription of any registered medical practitioner. The product licence was issued in July 1973. The drug is administered by doctors working in prisons when, in their clinical judgment, it is appropriate and the patients concerned consent to the treatment.