§ Mr. TredinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Enforcement Officers the Medicines Control Agency currently employs; what changes there have been in this number in the past year; and what plans there are to increase this number. [85222]
§ Ms Jowell[holding answer 24 May 1999]: There are 23 Enforcement Officers working within the Enforcement Group who deal solely with criminal investigations into allegations that medicines legislation has been breached.
There has been an increase of approximately 12 per cent. in the number of Enforcement Officers in the last 12 months, reflecting an increase in the work load. 158W infertility an individual may have more than one hospital episode. Treatment under other operation codes may be related to infertility. However, the codes given correspond as closely as possible to the information requested.
There are no plans further to increase the number at present but this area of the Agency's responsibilities is kept under careful review so as to ensure the protection of public health can be maintained.