MHRA INVESTIGATE MHRA

-----Original Message-----
From: FOI_Website_Request@mhra.gsi.gov.uk [mailto:FOI_Website_Request@mhra.gsi.gov.uk]
Sent: 05 June 2006 18:00
To: FOI_request Subject: FOI Website Request
Mon Jun 05 18:00:11 BST 2006

Details of information Required:

From correspondence with your information centre, I have been made aware that Glaxo SmithKline are currently under investigation by the MHRA.

Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) I request the following questions to be answered:

1. Will Dr Pete Breggin's 38 page report be used as part of the investigation?

2. Will Sir Alistair Breckenridge and Dr Ian Hudson play any part of the investigation? If so, what role will they play? If not, Why?

3. Have the police been drafted in to help with enquiries? If not, Why?

4. Will the Prof. Kent Woods, CEO of the MHRA accept full responsibility for the failings of the review boards concerning the anti - depressant drug Seroxat? If not, Why?

5. Evidence suggests that at least two members of the MHRA, Sir Alistair Breckenridge and Dr Ian Hudson, were both employed by Glaxo SmithKline during the adult trials for Seroxat. Given that - It is conceiveable that both knew that their employers had suppressed evidence from both the public and the MHRA. Will both Sir Alistair Breckenridge and Dr Ian Hudson be prosecuted?

I trust you can give me answers to these questions in due course. If for some reason you cannot, I request a full, detailed response as to why you cannot give me answers.

Meantime, I look forward to your reply.
Mr. Robert Fiddaman

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RESPONSE FROM MHRA

----- Original Message -----
From: Lee-Frost, Danny
To: fiddaman64@blueyonder.co.uk
Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2006 2:05 PM
Subject: Freedom of Information request

Dear Mr Fiddaman.

REF: FOI 06/189 Thank you for your enquiry of 5th June. I am writing to let you know that we are unable to supply part the information you have requested. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) certain exemptions apply to the information we can make available.

The information you have requested concerning a criminal investigation is subject to the exemption contained in the FOIA, namely exemption 30. We have concluded that disclosing this information would not be appropriate because it would prejudice an ongoing criminal investigation. I am satisfied that both categories in exemption 30 are applicable;

a) where information has at any time been held for the purpose of specified criminal and other investigations or proceedings; and

b) where information relates to the obtaining of information from confidential sources and was obtained or recorded for a number of specified investigations or proceedings.

Therefore it would not be in the public interest to disclose the outcome of the criminal investigation in advance of any potential court proceedings.

However I can confirm that the investigation to which you refer is being conducted by the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Enforcement & Intelligence Group and the services of the police have not been required. For more information on the work of this group please visit the MHRA website at www.mhra.gov.uk

If you have a query about this letter, please contact me. If you are unhappy with our decision, you may ask for it to be reviewed. That review will be undertaken by a senior member of the Agency who has not previously been involved in your request. If you wish to pursue that option please write to the Communications Directorate, 10th Floor, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, at the above address quoting the above reference. After that, if you remain dissatisfied, you may ask the Information Commissioner at

The Information Commissioner's Office Wycliffe House Water Lane Wilmslow Cheshire SKI OAF to make a decision on whether or not we have interpreted the FOI correctly in withholding information from you.

Yours sincerely

Danny Lee-Frost Head of Enforcement Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

Room 18-108
Tel: 020 7084 2618/2173
Mob: 07712 556 352
danny.lee-frost@mhra.gsi.gov.uk