PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
VITAMIN B6 - CONSULTATION EXERCISE (20 July 1998)

That this House notes that the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food undertook a consultation exercise to seek comments on his proposals severely to restrict the retail sale of vitamin B6 supplements; further notes that the consultation period ended on 26th June but that as of 20th July officials at the Ministry confirm that they have not as yet even finished summarising the responses received to that exercise and are not yet in a position to make recommendations to Ministers; views with profound concern the allegations in the Independent newspaper of 20th July to the effect that notwithstanding this unfinished consultation exercise the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has already obtained the agreement of the Prime Minister to proceed with the proposed restrictions regardless of the findings of the consultation process; believes that this would make a sham of the Ministry's pretence to consult and undermines the principle of accountability to Parliament and its select committees by ignoring the recent report of the Agriculture Committee which rejected outright the Minister's proposals; invites the Prime Minister to make an urgent statement to the House clarifying the position and making it clear that no final decision will be taken until the responses to the consultation process have been duly summarised and officials have made recommendations in the usual manner; and reiterates the view of the overwhelming majority of informed opinion that there are no credible reports of adverse effects from vitamin B6 supplementation at levels of under 200 mg per day.

Sponsored by:
David Tredinnick (Conservative)