§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many papers were sent to the Committee on Safety of Medicines by the Aspirin Foundation and the Proprietary Association of Great Britain in relation to Reye's syndrome; what comments were made on the possible causal link between aspirin and Reye's syndrome; what evidence was provided relating to the alleged causal link; what specific proposals for stopping the use of aspirin by children were made, if any age was recommended below which aspirin should not be given; and if he will place a copy of the papers in the Library.
§ Mr. HayhoeThe material given to the Committee on Safety of Medicines by the Aspirin Foundation and the Proprietary Association of Great Britain was provided in confidence. The recommendations of the CSM and the basis on which it reached its view were described in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) on 10 June at columns145–46.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will place in the Library the preliminary communication sent to the Committee on Safety of Medicines by the authors of the report of the British Reye's syndrome surveillance scheme; and when he expects to receive the final report.
§ Mr. HayhoeThe provisional findings of the British Reye's syndrome surveillance scheme risk factor study were sent to the Committee on Safety of Medicines in confidence. I understand that the report with the substantive findings will be available later this year and I will arrange for a copy to be put in the Library. Summary reports of the surveillance scheme have been published in theBritish Medical Journal of 18 February 1984 and 3 August 1985.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the reply to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South, Official Report, 13 June, columns 366–7, in what ways the Committee on Safety of Medicines kept under review the possibility of a link between Reye's syndrome and aspirin between 1982 and 1985; how the responsibility was shared between officials and members; if any initiatives were taken by the committee to seek further evidence or to examine that already available or becoming available; and if the issue was discussed at meetings of the Committee other than those in 1982, April 1985 and March 1986.
§ Mr. HayhoeThe Committee on Safety of Medicines, supported by its professional and administrative secretariat, maintained a continuous surveillance of world scientific literature for any new evidence relevant to the question of whether there is a causal link between aspirin and Reye's syndrome. The CSM also kept in touch with other regulatory authorities including the United States Food and Drugs Administration.
In the United Kingdom, the CSM has studied the work of the national childhood encephalopathy study, and has carefully followed the results flowing from the surveillance scheme set up jointly by the British Paediatric Association and the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centres. It has kept in close touch with professional opinion and in particular has sought the views of the British Paediatric Association. A careful watch has been kept on yellow card reports sent to the CSM by medical practitioners.
295WIn addition to the meetings in 1982, April 1985 and March 1986, the CSM discussed the issue in April and May this year.