§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will detail the guidelines and financial arrangements he is making to ensure that the drug beta-interferon can be prescribed to patients suffering from multiple sclerosis who are assessed as likely to benefit from it. [37578]
§ Mr. MaloneNo beta-interferon drug has been licensed for use in the United Kingdom. A licence application for one such drug is currently being considered within the European centralised licensing procedure. The Department of Health is developing guidance to help the national health service plan for the introduction of the drug, subject to the outcome of the licence application.