Written question asked by Tony Baldry (Conservative) on Thursday, 20 July 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 24 July 2006. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Monday, 4 September 2006 on behalf of the Home Office.

Narcotics Production

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his letter to the hon. Member for Cambridgeshire South East dated 10 July 2006 on Home Office interpretation of the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, whether the UK would continue to be self-sufficient in narcotics production were manufacturers of oxycodone hydrochloride formulations to relocate production to another EU country; how loss of self-sufficiency would effect (a) jobs, (b) the balance of payments and (c) continuity of supply of opiate-based analgesics within the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: It is not possible accurately to predict the development of the pharmaceutical narcotics industry in the UK in relation to oxycodone. There are many variables which would determine the future situation. These include, for example, the choice of territory, obtaining approvals from governments abroad, the development of a production facility and downstream marketing arrangements.

Secondary information