HC Deb 10 July 2002 vol 388 cc1039-40W
Dr. Fox

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings Ministers from his Department had with members of the advisory task force on utilising front-line NHS staff; and when. [56993]

Mr. Hutton

The national health service taskforce on staff involvement was established in 1998 to look at successful approaches to involving front-line staff and make recommendations to Ministers. It was disbanded once their report had been submitted to Ministers. The taskforce included thirteen representatives from across the NHS, a trade union and the private sector. The taskforce met the then Secretary of State for Health, the right hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson), in

Norman Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when(a) the first official contact between ministers in his Department and Powderject concerning the smallpox vaccine and (b) the signing of the contract was; and if he will make a statement. 154656]

Mr. Hutton

[holding answer 8 May 2002]: Ministers had no contact with Powderject concerning the placing of the smallpox vaccine contact. The contract was signed on 11 April 2002. All meetings and subsequent discussions with the pharmaceutical companies were conducted by officials from the Department and the Ministry of Defence.

Mr. Bellingham

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the smallpox vaccine ordered from Powderject will need to be trialled before it can be used. [67546]

Mr. Hutton

No, the vaccine can be used without clinical trials. There are currently no plans to undertake clinical trials of the smallpox vaccine in the UK. Since smallpox does not currently exist in the population, trials of protective efficacy are not possible. The EU committee for proprietary medicinal products is currently developing the requirements for the manufacture of second generation smallpox vaccine. which will include guidance on the design of any clinical trials.