Safety of Medicines

HC Deb 21 March 1996 vol 274 cc317-8W

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many yellow cards have been received by the Medicines Control Agency for each month since January 1994. [20499]

Mr. Malone

The information is shown in the table. A report of a suspected adverse drug reaction does not necessarily mean that the condition was caused by the medicine.

Month and year of receipt	Number of yellow cards received
1994
January	1,171
February	1,262
March	1,464
April	1,133
May	1,277
June	1,619
July	1,309
August	1,412
September	1,543
October	1,352
November	2,072
December	1,950
1995
January	1,741
February	1,484
March	1,720
April	1,210
May	1,517
June	1,472
July	1,579
August	1,347
September	1,437
October	1,381
November	1,559
December	1,289
1996
January	1,487
February	1,660

Mr. Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions and on what date or dates since the coming into effect of the Medicines Act 1968 the powers under section 3 (2) (c) of the Act have been used by Ministers to request the Medicines Commission to review the section 4 committees; and if he will not invoke those powers. [20503]

Mr. Malone

This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health who is the chairman of the Committee on Safety of Medicines for the period 1 January 1996 to 31 December 1998. [20504]

Mr. Malone

Professor Michael Rawlins.