§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for health (1) what assessment her Department has made of the likely effect of the proposed extension of the limited list on medical research investment by United Kingdom-based pharmaceutical companies;
(2) what assessment her Department has made of the likely effect of the proposed extension of the limited list on the United Kingdom pharmaceutical industry's international competitiveness;
(3) what assessment her Department has made of the likely effect of the proposed extension of the limited list on attracting new inward investment in the United Kingdom pharmaceutical research and production.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe selected list scheme provides that particular drugs may not be prescribed under the national health service where there are effective alternatives available at lower cost. It mirrors measures being taken throughout Europe to limit rapidly rising drugs bills. The relative competitiveness of the United Kingdom pharmaceutical industry and decisions on investment in medical and pharmaceutical research and production depend on many factors in both the United Kingdom and other key pharmaceutical markets. It is not possible to identify specifically the impact of the proposed extension of the selected list arrangement separately from that of other changes in both the United Kingdom and other countries.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the likely effect of the proposed extension of the limited list on employment in the research-based sector of the United Kingdom pharmaceutical industry.
§ Dr. MawhinneyFollowing my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's announcement on 12 November, the Advisory Committee on National Health Service Drugs will make recommendations about which products within the additional therapeutic categories may not be prescribed under the NHS. The companies concerned may wish to make representations to the committee before it makes its final recommendations. Until decisions on the individual products have been taken, it is not possible to assess whether there will be any effect on employment in the United Kingdom pharmaceutical industry.