Triazolam (Hansard, 12 July 1993)

§ Dr. Goodson-Wickes
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received from the panel of persons appointed since announcing the revocation of all licences for triazolam products on 9 June.

§ Mr. Sackville
None.

§ Dr. Goodson-Wickes
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish her correspondence with the chairman of the panel of persons appointed regarding the decision of the licensing authority to revoke all licences for triazolam products.

§ Mr. Sackville
My hon. Friend the Minister for Health wrote on 9 June to the chairman of the panel of persons appointed to inform her that the licensing authority's determination would be announced that day. The letter enclosed a note on the licensing authority's position on triazolam. The note is publicly available and a copy is available in the Library.

§ Dr. Goodson-Wickes
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what conclusion she has drawn regarding the implications of the revocation of licences for triazolam products for the future of the appeals procedure set out in the Medicines Act 1968; and if she will make a statement.

§ Mr. Sackville
Before deciding to revoke these licences, the licensing authority followed the procedures set out in section 29 of, and schedule 2 to, the Medicines Act and took into account the reports it had received from the Committee on the Safety of Medicines, the Medicines Commission and the panel of persons appointed. The licensing authority is not obliged to follow the advice or accept the findings in these reports but must take them into account. The decision in this case has no implications for the future of these procedures.

§ Dr. Goodson-Wickes
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish her correspondence with the chairman of the Medicines Commission regarding the decision of the licensing authority to revoke all licences for triazolam products.

§ Mr. Sackville
There has been no such correspondence.