§ Mr. Tony Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the number of applications for parallel product licences for pharmaceuticals he has (a) granted and (b) received since March 1986; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HayhoeSince the product licences (parallel importing) scheme was first introduced in May 1984, 2,940 licence applications have been received, 1,264 licences have been granted and altogether 2,302 applications (that is 78 per cent.) have been cleared. The working of the scheme itself is kept under continuous review.
During the period 1 March 1986 to 27 June 1986, 439 applications for product licences (parallel importing) were received and 360* licences were granted. Some 50 new applications are currently being submitted each week.
Note:* The licences granted include some in respect of applications received before 1 March 1986.