HC Deb 05 June 1990 vol 173 cc598-9W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many members of the Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals in Food are consultants to companies that are involved with the manufacture, marketing or use of artificial sweeteners in their products; and if he will make a statement.

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields on 22 May, if he will name the one member of the Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals in Food who acts as a consultant to the International Sweeteners Organisation.

Mr. Dorrell

It is not our policy to publish details of the outside interests of members of the independent expert advisory committee on toxicity. Members declare, in confidence, to the Department any specific pecuniary relationship between themselves and any company in the field in which the advisory committee operates. When an item in which a member has an interest is discussed the interest is declared and the declaration is minuted.

One member has declared an interest in a company associated with another company which manufactures an artificial sweetener, another member has declared an interest in a company manufacturing an artificial sweetener and a third has declared an interest in an organisation representing manufacturers of artificial sweeteners.