§ Ms HodgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements are made for an independent body to oversee the working of the Committee on Safety of Medicines. [22925]
§ Mr. SackvilleThe Medicines Commission, established under section 2 of the Medicines Act 1968, has a general function to advise Ministers on matters relating to the Medicines Act or the exercise of any power conferred by it. The commission has a specific duty to review the functions of committees, including the Committee on Safety of Medicines, established under section 4 of the Act. In addition, the commission considers representations made by an applicant or licence holder where the licensing authority has been advised by the CSM to refuse, suspend, revoke or vary a licence.