§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the mechanism by which patients will be able to participate in the extended clinical trials of the beta interferon drug.[12344]
§ Ms BlearsWe are currently holding discussions with the manufacturers to consider a range of options under which drugs for multiple sclerosis might be made available under the national health service. One option is a risk-sharing scheme which will evaluate their clinical and cost effectiveness, and until these discussions are concluded we cannot provide the information requested.