§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the terms of reference of the research being carried out by Professor Conrad Harris and funded by the Department in relation to his indicative prescribing scheme; where this research is being undertaken; what account is taken by the project of the generics of the drugs; how many representatives of drug companies are working as part of this research team; and how much of the funding of the project comes from drug manufacturers.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe remit of the research is to analyse patterns of prescribing in general practice and to develop indicators to provide the NHS with information about the normal range of prescribing for certain types of144W drugs. The research is being undertaken at the department of general practice at Leeds university. No representatives of drug companies are working as part of the research team. The project is wholly Government funded. Generic prescribing is one of the factors which the team may address during its research.