§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Answer by Baroness Jay of Paddington on 2 December (H.L. Deb., col. 1237) to the effect that they are looking at the best ways to "ensure that other voices and opinions, such as those of consumer groups and other lay interests, are taken into account" by the Committee on Toxicity, whether they intend to bring forward proposals for the reform of the procedures and structure of that committee; if so, when; and whether having introduced such changes they will then make it their policy to ask the committee to review its advice on Vitamin B6 safety.
Baroness Jay of Paddington: The Government are currently considering the ways of increasing the openness and transparency of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT), as well as other expert advisory committees. As these arrangements have not been finalised it is not possible to say when they will be implemented.
The Government have every confidence in the rigour with which the COT reviewed the Vitamin B6 data and in the robustness of the recommendations it made. We have no intention to ask the COT to review its advice.