Volume 1: Findings and Conclusions
4. The Southwood Working Party and other scientific advisory committees
Other scientific advisory committees
The Consultative Committee on Research into SEs (The Tyrrell Committee)
The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC)

The Consultative Committee on Research into SEs (The Tyrrell Committee) ¹

286 One of the first recommendations to be made by the Southwood Working Party in June 1988 was that an expert Consultative Committee on research should be set up. In February 1989 it was announced that, following this recommendation, a Consultative Committee had been set up, chaired by Dr David Tyrrell. ² The other members were Dr Watson, ³ Professor John Bourne, ⁴ Dr Robert Will, ⁵ and Dr Richard Kimberlin. ⁶ The terms of reference were:

To advise the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Department of Health on research on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies including:

(a) work already in progress or proposed;

(b) any additional work required;

(c) priorities for future relevant research.

In the context of these terms of reference, transmissible spongiform encephalopathies include those affecting both domestic and wild ruminants and man.

287 The Committee moved fast. After three meetings it presented an 'Interim Report' to the Government on 10 June 1989. This identified a number of research questions that needed to be answered about BSE under the headings: epidemiology, pathology and molecular studies. Research studies needed to answer these questions were identified and graded with three stars for highest priority, two stars for medium priority and one star for low priority. We consider the adequacy of the research carried out into BSE in Chapter 12 below.

288 In commenting on the research questions, the Committee observed:

We need to be sure that the disease really came from sheep and to know whether it is likely to establish itself long-term in bovines.

289 In their conclusions the Committee stressed that more research was needed:

If the preliminary studies and arguments-by-analogy used to determine our present control policies turn out to be incorrect, it will be essential to have well-documented facts available so that current policies can be effectively revised.

290 The Report was produced in haste as an interim one because the Committee was anxious that there should be no delay in seeking provision of resources for essential research and getting the projects under way. The Committee emphasised the importance of having the projects peer-reviewed and suggested that:

A standard mechanism may be needed to oversee this co-operation and co-ordination beyond the lifetime of our Committee.

291 The Committee asked for guidance as to whether they were expected to have a continuing role in peer review and project coordination.

292 Mr Gummer decided that the Government should respond to the Tyrrell Report by initiating all research projects falling within the top two of the Tyrrell Committee's priority categories, and Mr Roger Freeman, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at DH, conveyed to him his Department's agreement with this response. Delay then occurred in ensuring that the necessary funding was in place. This was not achieved until January 1990, when the Government published the Report and announced that work was in hand to implement the projects recommended by the Tyrrell Committee as urgent and of high priority, some of which were already in progress. It is creditworthy that Mr Gummer, in accordance with the advice of his officials, proffered by Mr Andrews, and with the support of DH, decided that all these projects should be pursued.

The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC)

293 No further assistance was sought from the Tyrrell Committee. Officials at MAFF and DH agreed that it was desirable that a new expert standing committee should be formed to meet from time to time to advise on questions about BSE, but that this new committee should not publish reports. Its role would include having a general overview of research. Dr Tyrrell was invited, and agreed, to chair this new committee. Mr Gummer announced the setting up of SEAC on 3 April 1990. Its terms of reference were:

To advise the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of Health on matters relating to spongiform encephalopathies.

294 A detailed account of the setting up, membership and activities of SEAC appears in Volume 11, together with discussion on its role. In this volume we shall refer from time to time in the course of the narrative to questions asked of, and advice given by, SEAC. Contrary to the expectation, and to some extent the wishes, of its members, SEAC found itself given the role of providing policy advice on almost every decision that the Government was faced with in handling BSE.

295 We should record our respect for the dedication of the members of both the Tyrrell Committee and SEAC. Members of the latter found themselves called upon to provide much more assistance than they had been led to believe would be the case. Independent scientists in this country have an admirable tradition of agreeing to serve on committees performing functions in the public interest. Members of SEAC, who exemplified this tradition, found that it involved a considerable burden.