§ Mr. Coombsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many doctors have applied to the Committee on Safety of Medicines for permission to conduct clinical trials of anti-progesterone pills on women; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many doctors have applied to the Committee on Safety of Medicines for permission to conduct clinical trials of the French anti-progesterone pill, known as RU 486, on women; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeAll information provided to the licensing authority in support of applications made or exemptions applied for under the Medicines Act 1968 is treated as commercially confidential as it could be of financial value to the competitors of the applicant.
Any clinical trials of RU 486, or any other similar product, as an abortifacient must, of course, comply with the requirements of the relevant Abortion Acts.