HC Deb 13 June 1996 vol 279 c239W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) of 19 December 1995,Official Report, column 1153, what factors prevented commencement of the despatch of letters relating to desogestrel and gestodene before 16.30 on 18 October 1995. [32723]

Mr. Malone

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health made an oral statement to the House on 23 October 1995, columns707–02 which described the urgent arrangements put in place to communicate the Committee on Safety of Medicines' advice to health professionals. In addition, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 5 June, Official Report, column 448.