§ Mr. ThomasonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the proposed siting of the European Medicines Evaluation Agency in the United Kingdom.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyDiscussions have been held with the pharmaceutical industry which has made it clear that it believes the London area offers the most promising site for the European Medicines Evaluation Agency, if the 695W agency is sited in the United Kingdom. The Government support this preference on the part of an industry which does 8 per cent. of the world's pharmaceutical research and development in the United Kingdom, provides us with an export surplus of £1.2 billion, and offers high quality jobs for 89,000 people.