Written question asked by Richard Ottaway (Conservative) on Tuesday, 28 October 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 11 November 2003. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Tuesday, 11 November 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prosecutions have been brought under Regulation 14(a)(s) of the Medical Devices Regulations 1994 against dental laboratories which have not registered in accordance with the regulations since they came into force; what steps his Department is taking to identify those dental laboratories which are not so registering; and if he will make a statement. - Including figure.

Answer: Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prosecutions have been brought under Regulation 14(a)(s) of the Medical Devices Regulations 1994 against dental laboratories which have not registered in accordance with the regulations since they came into force; what steps his Department is taking to identify those dental laboratories which are not so registering; and if he will make a statement. [135526] Miss Melanie Johnson: No prosecutions have been undertaken against dental laboratories which have failed to register under the Medical Devices Regulations (now consolidated in SI2002 No. 618). The vast majority of breaches of the regulations are resolved with the co-operation of the manufacturer in line with the Governments Concordat on Enforcement without the need for prosecution. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, which enforces the regulations in the United Kingdom, investigates and resolves all potential breaches that are drawn to its attention.

Secondary information