Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 14 November 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 23 November 2000. It was answered by Yvette Cooper (Labour) on Thursday, 23 November 2000 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Bethnal Green and Bow of 23rd October 2000 at 355 c78-80W, when Ministers discovered that the 1989 guidelines applied only to injectable medicines, and to those applied to the eyes or open wounds; and what steps he is taking in respect of the Medicines Control Agency, following the incorrect advice proffered to Ministers; to what extent vaccines cleared for general use may contain material of bovine origin used as ingredients in the process of production; what procedures his Department (a) has in place and (b) has had in place since 1989 to ensure that vaccines comply with the 1989 regulations relating to the use of bovine material in the production of vaccines; if he will set out the ways in which the polio vaccine manufactured in the Medeva plant in Speke which was recently withdrawn used bovine material in the manufacturing process. - (Holding answer 21 November 2000).

Answer: Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, (1) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Bethnal Green and Bow (Ms King) of 23 October 2000, Official Report, columns 78-80W, when Ministers discovered that the 1989 guidelines applied only to injectable medicines, and to those applied to the eyes or open wounds; and what steps he is taking in respect of the Medicines Control Agency, following the incorrect advice proffered to Ministers; [138992] (2) to what extent vaccines cleared for general use may contain material of bovine origin used as ingredients in the process of production; [138929] (3) what procedures his Department (a) has in place and (b) has had in place since 1989 to ensure that vaccines comply with the 1989 regulations relating to the use of bovine material in the production of vaccines; [138931] (4) if he will set out the ways in which the polio vaccine manufactured in the Medeva plant in Speke which was recently withdrawn used bovine material in the manufacturing process. [138923] Yvette Cooper: [holding answer 21 November 2000]: I have asked the Chief Medical Officer to review all the advice given to Ministers on vaccines in relation to public health and vCJD. This review will include the circumstances leading to the withdrawal of the Medeva manufactured oral polio vaccine and advice to Ministers on withdrawal or recall of vaccines more generally. When the report on the CMO is available, I will respond to the specific points raised.

Secondary information