§ Mr. MacdonaldTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the extent to which the production of safe and efficient factor 8 concentrates from United Kingdom national fractionation centres meets the need of haemophiliacs in the United Kingdom;
(2) when he expects the United Kingdom to achieve self-sufficiency in blood products;
(3) at what date United Kingdom haemophiliacs will be able to receive factor 8 made solely from the plasma of unpaid donors to the national blood transfusion service.
§ Mr. FreemanAt present in England and Wales approximately 70 per cent. of the factor 8 used to treat haemophiliacs is produced at the blood products laboratory from the plasma of unpaid donors to the national blood transfusion service. The remainder is commercially produced factor 8 which is imported into the United Kingdom. The imported products are being prescribed as a result of the preference of individual clinicians. The blood products laboratory is, therefore, meeting in full the demand for its factor 8, as it is for virtually all other blood products. It is making efforts to increase its share of the blood products market in this country, but the choice of product remains with the clinician.
The information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.