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Department of Health

My hon. Friend will have to forgive me, because I disagree with parts of what he has just said. I know that he has taken a great interest in the pharmaceutical industry for many years, but I do not agree with him on this issue. Proper licensing arrangements are in place. Yes, it is true that issues such as the withdrawal of Vioxx come around now and again, but patient safety was one of the first subjects emanating from the report that I raised in this debate. The House must understand that I was not on the Health Committee when the investigation took place or when the report was published, although I did play a role in trying to get the Government’s response a bit earlier, in view of their delay in providing it.