§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what indication he can give of the detrimental effect on the balance of trade that is directly attributable to parallel imports of pharmaceutical products; and to what extent they have damaged investment in production in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. MellorI have been asked to reply. We are aware that there is some general feeling in the research-based pharmaceutical industry that parallel imports could be harmful to the industry in various ways. We have not, however, seen any specific evidence of detrimental effects of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers.