Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health why (a) sodium and calcium ascorbate, and (b) sodium, potassium and calciumhydroxide have been included on the positive list in Annex II of the EU Food Supplements Directive; and why magnesium ascorbate hasnot been included. [123562]Miss Melanie Johnson: The list of permitted nutrients in Schedule 2 to the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003 is drawndirectly from the list of permitted vitamins and minerals in Annex II to the Food Supplements Directive. This list was drawndirectly from established lists in existing Community food legislation.The annexes to the Food Supplements Directive remain open, pending safety assessment of additional substances on the basis ofdossiers submitted in support of the safe use of substances currently omitted from the annexes.