HC Deb 31 March 1993 vol 222 cc241-3W
Mrs. Jane Kennedy

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning in the home have occured in each year since 1980.

Mr. Sackville

[holding answer 30 March 1993]:The information is given in the table.

manufacturers have not applied for a product licence from the veterinary medicines directorate either on the grounds of the cost of making such an application, or upon other grounds.

Mr. Soames

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the EC wide review of pharmaceutical veterinary product licences issued before 1984, which is currently being undertaken in the United Kingdom in accordance with directive 81/851/EEC. At 2 March 1993, 2,731 products had been called for review. Of these, 504 reviewed licences have been issued, 506 applications are still under assessment, and 1,721 licences have been withdrawn or expired at companies request. The grounds for decisions either to apply for, or to withdraw, licences are a commercial matter for the companies concerned.

Mrs. Ann Winterton

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that the interests of the relevant industries and professions are fully represented among the membership of the veterinary medicines directorate.

Mr. Soames

The veterinary medicines directorate holds regular meetings with representatives of consumer organisations, the National Office of Animal Health, the British Veterinary Association, and other representative organisations and professional bodies to ensure that their views are fully represented.

Mrs. Ann Winterton

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total cost of the veterinary medicines directorate in each year since its establishment; and what percentage of these costs have been raised by fees from industry in each of those years.

Mr. Soames

The veterinary medicines directorate (VMD) was established on 3 April 1989, and as a next steps agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 2 April 1990. The total annual costs of the VMD, and the percentage raised by licence fees, have been as follows:

£'000 Per cent. raised by licence fees
1989–90 2,300 65
1990–91 3,100 68
1991–92 3,700 65
1992–931 3,800 63
1 Forecast.