HL Deb 07 July 1998 vol 591 cc121-3WA
The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in the light of the reported statement of the Appraisal Panel of the Veterinary Products Committee (Official Group on OPs—Report to Ministers, paragraph 8.3) that there is "no scientifically recognised and widely accepted clinical syndrome associated with low level exposure to OP dips", they have any plans to remedy the deficiency by commissioning work to develop a definitive diagnostic scheme. [HL2555]

Baroness Jay of Paddington

The working party of the Royal College of Physicians of London and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, which is expected to report in a few weeks, has been asked to make recommendations on how clinical studies on those who attribute illness to organophosphate (OP) sheep dips might be carried out. Their report will be considered by the Official Group on OPs. We shall then be able to decide what work would be appropriate to be commissioned in this area.

The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether it is their intention to arrange for the review, Organophosphate esters: an evaluation of the chronic neurotoxic effects, commissioned by the Department of Health from the Medical Research Council Institute for Environment and Health, to be published in a peer review journal in addition to the review to be undertaken by members of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment in accordance with the recommendation of the Official Group on OP's in paragraph 3.11 of its report to Ministers. [HL2559]

Baroness Jay of Paddington

The Institute for Environment and Health report has already been published and it would not now be accepted for publication as it stands. However, an abridged version of the review will appear in a forthcoming issue ofArchives in Toxicology following a presentation at the International Congress on Toxicology to be held in Paris on 5–9 July 1998.

The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether appointments to the sub-group of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment to examine the review of the Institute for Environment and Health have been made; and, if they have, whether they will list the names of the members together with their interests and current employment positions. [HL2560]

Baroness Jay of Paddington

The appointment of members to the Working Group on Organophosphates of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment have only recently been made. The members are listed as follows; the list of members' interests has not been finalised yet and will be published in due course.

Professor H. F. Woods (Chairman) Department of Medicine, Royal Hallamshire Hospital
Professor Peter G. Blain University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, The Medical School
Mrs. Judy Brander Independent lay person
Professor David N. M. Coggon Medical Research Centre, University of Southampton
Professor Sarah Darby ICRF Cancer Epidemiology Unit, The Radcliffe Infirmary

Professor Anthony Dayan St. Bartholomew's and The Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London
Mrs. Rosemary Edwards Independent lay person
Professor Richard Hughes Guy's Hospital
Dr. Michael Joffe St. Mary's Hospital Medical School
Dr. Nicolas Murray National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
Professor Andrew G. Renwick University of Southampton
Professor Michael Rugg St. Andrew's University
Dr. Allister J. Vale West Midlands Poisons Unit, Birmingham