Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 1 May 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 November 2002. It was answered by Lord Hutton of Furness (Labour) on Thursday, 7 November 2002 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list (a) the meetings between (i) ministers and (ii) officials in his Department with Powderject concerning the smallpox vaccine and (b) the names of those who attended those meetings; and if he will make a statement. - (Holding answer 8 May 2002).

Answer: Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list (a) the meetings between (i) ministers and (ii) officials in his Department with Powderject concerning the smallpox vaccine and (b) the names of those who attended those meetings; and if he will make a statement. [54660] Mr. Hutton: [holding answer 8 May 2002]: Ministers had no meetings with PowderJect concerning the placing of the smallpox vaccine contract. Officials from the Department and from the Ministry of Defence met with PowderJect on 22 January as part of the confidential discussions held with the five major pharmaceutical companies known to have smallpox vaccine manufacturing capability. The meeting was to inform the company of our requirements for smallpox vaccine and to find out whether the company was in a position to meet our requirements and, if so, to invite them to submit their written proposals for vaccine supply. Since the award of the contract to PowderJect on 11 April, there have been two ad hoc meetings between officials from the Department and the Ministry of Defence with PowderJect to resolve matters of detail concerning labelling and packaging of the vaccine. As all discussions with the company were confidential, the names of those present are not being revealed. This is in accordance with normal policy.

Secondary information