To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account will be taken of patient safety within the health impact assessment element of the overall impact assessment accompanying the forthcoming consultation on proposals to introduce automatic generic substitution; and whether the health impact assessment will be published within the overall impact assessment. (305910)

Patient safety will be absolutely paramount in taking forward the work on generic substitution. We are currently finalising the impact assessment that will be published as part of the consultation exercise which will begin shortly.