§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the reports of suspected adverse reactions received by the Committee on Safety of Medicines during 1986 and 1987 were submitted by pharmaceutical companies.
§ Mr. MellorIn 1986 around 1,700 and in 1987, 1,778.
§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give a breakdown of the £460,000 spent by the Committee on Safety of Medicines during 1987–88.
§ Mr. MellorThe expenditure was as follows:
83W
£ Members' fees and expenses 95,000 Communications with doctors: "Current Problems" 85,000
£ Viewdata 34,000 Follow-up of yellow cards 15,000 Other means 9,000 Other administrative expenses 25,000 Contingency Reserve—not spent 197,000 460,000 Note: £29,000 of the reserve originally earmarked for the production costs of a video, "Help Make Medicines Safer"—to encourage doctors to report adverse reactions—was met from another DHSS budget. Reserves were also held in case an urgent safety warning to doctors had been needed.
§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health on which dates during 1986 and 1987 the Committee on Safety of Medicines met; and how many members were present on each occasion.
§ Mr. MellorThe committee met on the following dates in 1986 and 1987.
Date 1Members present 1986 30 January 20 (3) 27 February 15 (1) 26 March 17 (2) 30 April 16 29-30 May 20 (2) 26 June 16 24 July 19 (4) 25-26 September 18 (3) 23 October 15 20 November 16 18 December 17 (1) 1987 29 January 18 26-27 February 23 (4) 26 March 20 30 April 17 27-28 May 23 (3) 25 June 18 23 July 17 24 September 17 (2) 29-30 October 19 (2) 26 November 20 17 December 20 1 For all or part of proceedings. Note: The number in brackets is the number of those present who were appointed as temporary members for the meeting in question.
§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health who is the present chairman of the Committee on Safety of Medicines; who is responsible for the appointment; what is the term of office of the chairman; and if it is renewable.
§ Mr. MellorProfessor William Asscher BSc, MD, FRCP, dean of St. George's hospital medical school, London. The appointment was made by Health Ministers for a renewable period of three years which expires on 31 December 1989.
§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the current members of the Committee on Safety of Medicines are women; whether he has any plans to increase the number of women members; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorOne. Officials have invited a number of medical, pharmaceutical and other bodies including the Medical Women's Federation, the Women into Public Life84W Campaign and the Women's National Commission, to make suggestions for membership appointments to the committee, as well as to the Medicines Commission, Committee on Review of Medicines and Committee on Dental and Surgical Materials, to serve from January 1990. We will appoint the members we consider best qualified to carry out the committee's statutory functions. The letter inviting names for nomination includes the following:
Ministers would be pleased to increase the proportion of women members on these bodies, so women with appropriate expertise and experience would be particularly welcome.A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide an attendance record for each of the members of the Committee on Safety of Medicines during 1986 and 1987.
§ Mr. MellorThe names of the members of the Committee on Safety of Medicines in 1986 and 1987 (a new term of appointment began on 1 January 1987) and their attendance record are given in the table.
Name of Member Meetings Attended Possible Attendance Professor A. W. Asscher 21 22 Professor T. G. Booth 8 211 Professor A. M. Breckenridge 21 22 Professor C. M. Castleden 7 111 Professor J. G. Collee 11 211 Mr. W. M. Darling 9 111 Professor J. W. Dundee 9 111 Professor P. H. Elworthy 22 22 Professor A. T. Florence 16 22 Professor Sir Abraham Goldberg 11 111 Professor D. G. Grahame-Smith 10 111 Professor M. W. Greaves 16 22 Dr. J. M. Holt 10 111 Professor David Hull 7 111 Professor H. S. Jacobs 16 22 Dr. W. A. Jerrett 11 211 Professor M. J. S. Langman 9 312 Professor D. H. Lawson 9 211 Mr. F. E. Loeffler 11 211 Dr. E. Mayne 10 211 Professor J. O'D McGee 10 211 Professor A. E. M. McLean 11 312 Professor S. R. Meadow 10 211 Dr. S. A. Montgomery 11 211 Professor G. Nuki 10 211 Dr. B. L. Pentecost 18 22 Professor M. D. Rawlins 19 22 Dr. J. W. G. Smith 6 111 Professor M. P. Vessey 19 22 Dr. D. M. B. Ward 8 111 Professor H. K. Weinbren 10 111 1 1986 only. 2 1987 only. 3 Member in 1987; appointed for only one meeting in 1986.
§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to increase the budget of the Committee on Safety of Medicines.
§ Mr. MellorBudget allocations for 1988–89 are still under consideration.