§ Lord Skelmersdaleasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made in the assessment of the proposals submitted for epidemiological research into the effects of OP sheep dips.
Earl HoweThirteen proposals were received in response to the advertisements placed at the end of 1994 following acceptance by the Government of the recommendation of the Medical and Scientific Panel of the Veterinary Products Committee for carefully designed and targeted epidemiological studies into the effects of OP sheep dips. This research is to be publicly funded. Assessment of the proposals has now been completed, and after detailed consideration, it has been concluded that none meets the specifications laid down in the original advertisement. Considerable changes would need to be made before any of them could do so and, in the circumstances, it has been decided to re-advertise so that new or revised proposals can be submitted. This will be done as quickly as possible, but it is now likely to be the end of July before any contracts could be awarded.
I very much regret this further delay in getting this important work under way, but it is clearly in the interests of all concerned to ensure that any research which is commissioned is both scientifically sound and addresses the issues of concern.