HC Deb 21 January 1986 vol 90 cc131-2W
Mr. Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what grants were paid by his Department in 1984 and 1985 to the National Marriage Guidance Council; and why no grant is projected for 1986.

Mr. Whitney

The following grants were made towards the cost of the council's marital sexual therapy service:

Financial year £
1984–85 30,000
1985–86 25,000

Voluntary organisation Description of project Cost
£
TRANX Self-help group—tranquilliser misuse—Harrow 89,183
Tranx Release (Northampton) Advisory and self-help service—tranquilliser misuse 29,892
West Cumbria MIND (Copeland) Self-help group and other services for tranquilliser misusers 89,494
Newcastle Association for Mental Health Tranquilliser support project 96,213

In addition, funds have been made available to a large number of health authorities and voluntary organisations in respect of projects which include tranquilliser misusers amongst their clientele.

Mr. Wareing

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether any special procedures are used by the Committee on Safety of Medicines to monitor the safety of drugs in the benzodiazepine class;

(2) what procedures are used by the Committee on Safety of Medicines to follow up complaints from individual members and the public on the use of tranquillisers.

These concluded a final three-year departmental grant towards the service and were made on condition that the council contained any expenditure after 1985–86 within its other income.