HC Deb 29 November 1989 vol 162 cc289-90W
Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the activities of Mr. Yves Delatte and the sale of Delta Te immune support therapy;

(2) if his Department will immediately ban the sale and distribution of Delta Te immune support therapy;

(3) what are his Department's estimates as to the amount of Delta Te sold in Great Britain;

(4) what information he has about the continued sale of Delta Te immune support therapy;

(5) what representations he has received about the sale of Delta Te immune support therapy;

(6) what steps his Department has taken to prohibit the import and sale of Delta Te immune support therapy under the Medicines Act;

(7) if he will make a statement on the sale of Delta Te immune support therapy.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

I have been asked to reply.

Further to the reply my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Putney (Mr. Mellor) gave on 5 July at column 186, the Department is continuing to investigate the activities of Mr. Yves Delatte and the supply of Delta Te, including recent reports about the renewed sale of the substance. The information obtained so far is being examined for possible action. This will include prosecution where, on legal advice, there is evidence of a breach of the Medicines Act, or if the evidence supports this: possible use of powers to prohibit, in the interests of safety, import, sale and distribution of the material. Representations about the sale of Delta Te have been received from journal and television reporters and the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association. Information about the amount of Delta Te sold in Great Britain is not collected centrally.

Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission a study into the composition and effects of Delta Te immune support therapy; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jackson

I have been asked to reply. I understand that the Medical Research Council is not aware of any evidence indicating the safety of Delta Te for human use, or its likely effectiveness in treatment of persons whose immune system has been compromised. The council has no current plans for a study.

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