§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions the Chief Medical Officer has compiled an assessment of, or report into, the safety of CS sprays since January 1993. [63779]
§ Ms JowellThe Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) is currently considering the health effects of CS spray when used as an incapacitant. A comprehensive review of the available data has been prepared by officials at the Department for this purpose. The COT will consider the subject further at their February 1999 meeting. Their conclusions will be made known publicly once agreed and a copy of the review will be placed in the Library at the same time.
474WOfficials at the Department have previously reviewed the scientific data on CS gas and sprays but they have not produced any scientific papers or reports on the subject. A list of the published scientific literature which was fully reviewed has been placed previously in the Library.