HC Deb 25 June 1990 vol 175 cc86-7W
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Health of the current members of the Committee on Safety of Medicines how many have declared that they are given(a) private consultancy fees from pharmaceutical companies and (b) research grants to their medical departments.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Interests are declared in accordance with the code of practice published with the annual report of the Medicines Commission. A copy is in the Library. Under the code, personal interests involve payments to the member personally, for example, consultancies or other fee-paid work. Non-personal interests involve payments to a department for which a member is responsible, but does not benefit the member personally, for example, commissioned research. Currently there are 21 members of the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) and the interests they have declared are as follows:

Members
(a) A personal and non-personal interests 11
(b) Non-personal interests only 7

It is vital that committees providing expert scientific advice on medicines have members with practical experience of research and up-to-date scientific knowledge. By following the ethical standards set by the code of practice members are able to avoid conflicts of interest which might otherwise impair the objectivity of the advice they give. We have full confidence in the personal integrity of the members of the CSM.

Mr. Denzil Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will list the names of those members of the Committee on Safety of Medicines who are specialised in allergenic diseases.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The membership of the Committee on Safety of Medicines and its sub-committees covers a wide range of specialties. Additional experts may be consulted or appointed as temporary members as and when necessary. A table showing the membership of the committee and its sub-committees has been placed in the Library.

Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the Committee on Safety of Medicines voted in respect of the drug Corwin.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The deliberations of the Committee on Safety of Medicines are confidential.

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