HC Deb 05 March 1980 vol 980 cc239-40W
Mr. Rhodes James

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what publications have been produced by the Committee on Carcinogens in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment; and what other information produced by the committee is or is not available to the public.

Sir George Young

The Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment produced, in July 1979, a consultative document, "Guidelines for the testing of Chemicals for Carcinogenicity", which was widely circulated, within Government and industry, for comment. I expect the final version to be completed and published during the next few months.

Reference to the committee's advice can be found in the food additive and contaminants committee's (a committee of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) reports on "Asbestos in Food and Drink" (FAC/REP/30(1979)) and "Solvents" (FAC/REP/25(1978)). In addition, the annual reports of the Depart- ment's Chief Medical Officer outline the findings and advice of the committee on carcinogenicity. In the current report "On the State of the Public Health for the year 1978" the committee's advice regarding "Food Contact Materials" and "Cosmetics" is mentioned.

The minutes of the committee's meetings and all papers submitted to the committee are confidential to the Department and are not normally available to the public.

Mr. Rhodes James

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list in the Official Report the names of the members of the Committee on Carcinogens in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment, together with the details of the organisations they represent.

Sir George Young

The membership of the committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment is as follows:—

  • Professor H. K. Weinbren M.D., F.R.C.P. (Chairman)
  • Royal Post Graduate Medical School
  • Hammersmith Hospital.
  • Professor M. R. Alderson M.B.B.S., M.D., D.P.H., F.F.C.M., F.S.S.
  • Division of Epidemiology
  • Institute of Cancer Research.
  • Dr. P. Brookes Ph.D., B.Sc.
  • Pollards Wood Research Station.
  • Dr. J. Cairns, F.R.S., M.D.
  • Imperial Cancer Research Fund.
  • Dr. R. L. Carter, D.M., D.Sc., F.R.C.P.
  • Division of Pathology
  • Haddow Laboratories
  • Institute of Cancer Research
  • Dr. T. A. Connors, Ph.D., D.Sc., F.I.Biol.
  • Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit.
  • Professor C. J. Dickinson, D.M., F.R.C.P.
  • Department of Medicine
  • St. Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College.
  • Dr. B. J. Leonard, M.B., Ch.B., M.D., F.R.C.P.
  • Safety of Medicines Department
  • ICI Ltd.
  • Mr. R. Peto, M.Sc.
  • Department of the Regius Professor of Medicine
  • University of Oxford.
  • Dr. F. J. C. Roe, D.M., D.Sc., F.R.C.P.
  • Dr. P. Sims, D.Sc., Ph.D., B.Sc.
  • Institute of Cancer Research
  • Professor J. F. Smyth, M.D., M.Sc., M.R.C.P.
  • Medical Oncology Unit
  • The University of Edinburgh