§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
When the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) approved the experiment conducted in 1998 at Inveresk Research, Scotland, and funded by Bayer Chemicals, in which 50 men were exposed to a dose of the pesticide Azinphos-methyl; (a) whether that approval took cognisance of the efforts of Bayer Chemicals to persuade the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reverse pesticide controls introduced to protect children; (b) what was the HSE's attitude to the EPA's policy of declining to accept human experimental data concerning pesticides; and (c) what discussion took place between the HSE and the EPA before the HSE approved Bayer Chemicals' research protocol; and [HL766]
When the Health and Safety Executive approved the experiment conducted in 1998 at Inveresk Research, Scotland, in which 50 men were exposed to a dose of the pesticide Azinphos-methyl, whether it considered (a) that the identities and interests of the chairman and members of research ethics committees (REC) should be declared; and (b) that any of the following should be withheld from a bona fide inquirer: a copy of the research protocol; a copy of the information sheet issued to research subjects; correspondence between the applicant and the REC; and the report of the experiment to the REC. [HL792]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Baroness Hollis of Heigham)The HSE did not approve the study. There is no requirement or procedure for HSE approval of research projects of this nature.
§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have reviewed the Inveresk study subsequent to the questions raised about it; and, if so, what were their conclusions. [HL793]
58WA
§ Baroness Hollis of HeighamThe HSE has not reviewed the study. But discussion and correspondence with the company at the time, prompted by parliamentary and ministerial inquiries, gave no reason to doubt that it was carried out in accordance with health and safety legislation and generally accepted ethical protocols.