§ 9. Mr. John Hallasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research laboratory resources are available to the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee and the Pharmacology Sub-Committee to enable these committees to give authoritative advice on matters relating to food additives and contaminants.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. James Hoy)These committees do not carry out research. Their members are chosen for their ability to give authoritative advice based on their knowledge of the relevant research and on their evaluation of the evidence.
§ Mr. HallIs it not a fact that the Committees frequently ask other laboratories, notably the British Industrial Biological Research Association, to carry out a great deal of research for them, and if so, should they not be represented on the Committees?
§ Mr. HoyNo, Sir, I do not think so. It is true that the Committees do ask certain organisations to carry out research work; but the Committees are representative not of organisations, but of the best people to give advice.