§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will estimate the savings to the National Health Service if no drug company could charge the National Health Service more than it was charging customers in other European Economic Community countries;
(2) if he will seek to ensure that British drug companies charge the National Health Service no more than they charge for the same or similar drugs in other countries of the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWithout disproportionate expense we could not estimate the potential savings to the NHS from preventing companies from charging more than in any other country in the EEC. Other countries each have their own different price control systems with different objectives. Prices vary from country to country and from time to time. Adoption of a price control system of the kind suggested by the right hon. Member's question would be quite arbitrary, would seriously threaten the future of the pharmaceutical industry in the United Kingdom, and would offer no guarantee of assured savings in the longer term.