Off-patent Drugs Bill

Matthew Pennycook Excerpts

Friday 6th November 2015 Commons Chamber

[Alistair Burt]

I understand that point. We want more people to have prescribing powers and the information that they have will be vital.

A number of our exchanges have raised the questions of what information there will be and how easy it will be for clinicians to access it. We maintain that such access will be possible. The Access to Medical Treatments (Innovation) Bill will assist that still further.

[Matthew Pennycook (Greenwich and Woolwich) (Lab)]

The Minister has been exceptionally generous in giving way. I hold him in very high regard personally. However, given the weight of evidence that has been brought to the Chamber, he is doing himself a disservice. I appeal to him personally, as someone who has constituents who would benefit from the Bill, to allow it to go to Committee.

[Alistair Burt]

I certainly did myself a disservice with a silly, offhand remark. I entirely accept that. It is not like me and I apologise.

The stance that I am taking as the Minister representing the Government is that I do not believe this is the right vehicle to achieve what Members want. I am also concerned—