§ Mrs. Bridget PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether the Government's proposed restriction of oral contraceptive prescriptions will apply to all women equally, regardless of age and medical history; and which categories of women will be exempt from the restrictions;
(2) what criteria are being used to determine which oral contraceptives are to be placed on the NHS selected list.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe advisory committee on national health service drugs advises Health Ministers on which products in the selected list scheme categories should not be prescribable under the NHS. It is required to ensure that drugs to meet all real clinical needs can be provided economically as possible. It is open to the committee to advise that particular products can be prescribed only in specified circumstances.