HL Deb 09 March 1999 vol 598 cc23-4WA
The Earl of Carnarvon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will clarify the position regarding the independent review and audit of the research conducted by Dr. Arpad Pusztai at the Rowett Research Institute. [HL1219]

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston

In response to the publicity surrounding Dr. Pusztai's research, the Director of the Rowett Research Institute implemented a Medical Research Council-based protocol for the handling of such situations. This involved the setting up of an Audit Committee, including external independent members, to review the experimental data.

The Audit Committee's Report, published by the Director of the Rowett Research Institute on 28 October 1998, concluded that the results were? far too variable to reach statistical significance and too inconsistent to draw any conclusions". Dr. Pusztai produced an alternative report in response to the Audit Committee's comments. The alternative report together with the Audit Committee's response to that report was published by the Rowett Research Institute on 16 February 1999.