§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will request drug companies inserting descriptive and warning leaflets in packages of their products sold overseas to do likewise in the domestic market.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeNo. Medicines sold or supplied in the United Kingdom must be comprehensively labelled, but there is no requirement on companies to provide leaflets, although many do so. In the case of prescribed medicines, the onus is on the practitioners to ensure that patients have all the information they need. There are advantages and disadvantages in supplementing that information with leaflets. A university-based study into this question is expected to start later this year.