To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department has taken to ensure that the new generation of five hydroxytriptomide drugs are not addictive and do not have dangerous side effects.

Satisfactory controls already exist under the Medicines Act to ensure that newly developed drugs are examined for safety, quality and efficacy by the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) before a product licence is granted. Effective medicines may cause side effects in some patients and doctors take account of risk-benefit factors when prescribing. Doctors are advised of known side effects by means of a range of sources including product data sheets. All newly licensed drugs are carefully monitored for side effects by CSM.