HL Deb 01 May 2001 vol 625 cc86-7WA
The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Who are the members of the Pesticide Incidents Appraisal Panel, and what are their occupations and interests, for the years 1995 and currently. [HL1749]

Lord Whitty

In 1995, the members of the Pesticide Incidents Appraisal Panel were: Dr J Osman, senior employment medical adviser in the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Health Directorate (who Chairs the Panel; Dr N Bateman, then consultant physician at the Northern Regional Health Authority's Regional Drug and Therapeutic Centre; Dr V Murray, Occupational and Environmental Toxicologist, and Miss F Northall, Information Scientist, both at the London Centre of the National Poisons Information Service; Dr T Marrs, then senior medical officer in the Department of Health; Mr J Bouckley, HSE inspector; and Dr A Scott, senior employment medical adviser in the Employment Medical Advisory Service.

Dr Bateman and Dr Murray resigned from the panel in the interval between 1995 and now Dr Murray's resignation means that presently there is a vacancy on the panel. Currently the other independent members are: Dr T Aw, Senior Lecturer in Occupational Medicine at the Institute of Occupational Medicine in the University of Birmingham; Dr S Bradberry, Medical Officer at the West Midlands Centre of the National Poisons Information Service; Dr. R Ferrier, consultant physician at the West Midlands Centre for Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting; Miss Northall, jointly with Miss G Cullen, who is also an Information Scientist at the London Centre of the National Poisons Information Service; and Dr A Robertson, occupational hygienist and managing director of consulting at the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Edinburgh. The Department of Health is now represented by Mr Jon Battershill, toxicologist; and Mr G. Walker has replaced Mr Bouckley. Dr Osman continues to chair the panel.

There is no information on the interests of panel members for 1995 other than that the HSE and Department of Health members will have been subject to the normal rules of the Civil Service regarding such matters.

The profile of the panel's work has increased considerably in the recent past and, as a consequence, the need for statements of interest was considered at the panel's most recent meeting on 4 April 2001. At that meeting it was agreed that it was indeed appropriate for members to declare interests and the Chair was charged with drawing up procedures based on those already used by high level government advisory bodies. The new procedures will be introduced as soon as possible.