§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to assist, financially or administratively, smaller pharmaceutical firms in the registration of new products (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) overseas.
§ Dr. VaughanMy right hon. Friend has no plans specifically to assist small pharmaceutical firms in this way. So far as United Kingdom licensing is concerned, however, we have recently introduced procedural changes which should benefit companies generally in reducing regulatory delays before clinical trials of new drugs can begin and we are currently considering other proposals, relating to data from animal tests, which should help companies to decide more quickly on the basis of initial clinical trials whether a new drug has potential. As regards overseas registration, it would no doubt assist companies if regulatory requirements were harmonised and the Department has been involved in discussions to this end, both within the European Community and more widely. To assist exporters of medicinal products, the Department continues to provide at their request an export certificate service which confirms the United Kingdom licensing status of these products, thereby serving as proof of that status to a potential foreign customer or his Government.