HL Deb 12 January 1998 vol 584 c117WA
The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Minister for Public Health was involved in, or consulted about, the proposed restrictions on the retail sale of vitamin B6 supplements; whether in the course of any such involvement she declared any family connection with pharmaceutical companies; and, if so, what was the nature of the connection.

Baroness Jay of Paddington

The decision to propose restrictions on the retail sale of vitamin B6 supplements was taken jointly by the Minister of State for Public Health and the Minister for Food Safety following advice from the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment and the Food Advisory Committee. Paragraphs 109–129 of the Ministerial code require Ministers to ensure that there is no conflict of interest between their public duties and their private interests. The Secretary of State for Health is satisfied that there is no conflict of interest in this case.