Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will ensure that the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances has adequate resources to support the specialist nutrition industry.

The annual budget of the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances (ACBS) for 2020/21 was £18,350. The ACBS comprises of fifteen clinicians and the secretariat function is provided by one member of staff. The ACBS is currently reviewing its procedures to improve and standardise submission quality and assessment, which will improve efficiency and effectiveness. We are satisfied that the ACBS has sufficient resources to do so.

The ACBS’ function is overseen by a senior responsible officer within the Department and the Committee works within the Government’s Code of Practice for Scientific Advisory Committees.