§ Mr. GregoryTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has concerning long-term experiments on disturbed children at Aycliffe community school, County Durham, by the British Society of Nutritional Medicine relating to diet and behaviour; what is the status of the Society; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CurrieAycliffe school is a controlled community home. Responsibility for its management is shared between Durham county council and the Aycliffe school trust. I am advised that a study is proposed to assess whether there are observable differences in behaviour and learning associated with the provision of a balanced diet based on foods which have less sugar, salt and saturated fats but a higher fibre content than meals traditionally provided, as opposed to a diet not based on such foods. No individual food or food additive is to be investigated. An academic steering committee has been established to oversee the study and the study design will be subject to the approval of the research and ethical committees of Newcastle university and the South West Durham health authority. The study has not yet started.
If it proceeds, the study would be carried out in association with the British Society for Nutritional Medicine. I understand that the society is an association of doctors whose aim is to develop understanding of clinical nutrition. The society is providing funds for the cost of the research time and any additional food costs.
I have written to the chairman of the Durham county council social services committee asking him to give me the opportunity to see, in advance of the study being implemented, a copy of the academic steering committee's full description of the study, when it is available, together with the views of the research and ethical committees which are being consulted.