§ Mr. Michael MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated percentage increase in cost to the national health service drugs budget of the European Commission's proposed regulation on patent term restoration for medicinal products; and how any such increase would be affected by the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe precise cost would depend on the number and sales value of products benefiting in the future from extended protection. An estimate based on historical data, in a study commissioned by the industry, suggests the net effect could rise to around 1 per cent. of the drugs bill. The industry accepts that the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme could be used to mitigate the effect. However, as an indirect profitability control, on its present basis, it would be unlikely to produce an exact offset.