§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will investigate pharmaceutical companies from whom infected blood products have been purchased.
§ Mr. NewtonAll manufacturers of licensed medicinal products, including blood products, which are intended for use in the United Kingdom are already subject to regular inspections. This control is exercised by the Department's medicines inspectorate which follows a programme of inspections to confirm that the standards of good pharmaceutical manufacturing practice are observed. In the event of an incident which casts doubt upon the safety of a medicinal product, the licensing authority would investigate and, if necessary, take appropriate regulatory action which might include the suspension, revocation or variation of the licence.
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§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when Her Majesty's Government took action on all the evidence available to them to ensure the quality of blood products; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonCommercial blood products are licensed by the United Kingdom Medicines Licensing Authority only after careful consideration of quality, safety and efficacy. Requirements of the licensing authority have been updated as necessary in line with advances in medical knowledge. For example, all licensed factor VIII released for use in the United Kingdom from early 1985 has been heat treated to inactivate HIV and from the end of 1985 has been made from individually screened donations.