Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will instigate a public inquiry into the issuing of prescriptions for Primodos to pregnant women through the NHS before 1978.

Decisions about holding a public inquiry have to be proportionate to the need identified, taking into account the likely benefits, time and expense. The evidence has not established that Primodos and other hormonal pregnancy tests have caused congenital anomalies and the Government does not believe that a public inquiry is justified.