Phillips Inquiry into BSE in UK as of 27 January 1998
Information about the addresses, and telephone numbers for the
inquiry team can be found under details about the run up to the inquiry as can the
statement as to the terms of reference
of the inquiry
Like the news details, all new data about the inquiry is
added to the top of the internet page for this click on LATEST NEWS but much of this will in fact be
present in the LATEST MEDIA of the web
site and in the LATEST GOSSIP
sections.
N.B. the up to date statements and information on Phillips is
now available on the Phillips
web site
Specific details on the layout of the inquiry
- First stage: invitation to people to give evidence. A
purely factual excercise. Witnesses asked to give their own
account of what they said or did, and their reasons.
Submission of a written statement in advance. Expansion of this
when inteviewed in public. If it is learned that there is a
dispute as to the facts which should be probed then this will be
told to the witness in advance of the hearing.
- A review of all the evidence from witnesses and documents
that have been assembled by the secretariat.
- Second stage: The secretariat will write to any who face
potential criticism giving the details. These people will be
asked to lodge statements in which they respond to thepotential
criticisms, and to attend hearings so that they can answer
questions about the criticisms. Transcripts of what went on
will be available on the web page and on documents that would be
made available.
If lawyers for other parties want to ask questions of a witness
in the second stage, they would be required to state this in
advance and the inquiry would decide whether to permit lawyers
to ask the questions of the witness. Phillips states that a
number of bodies or interests have been so involved inthe BSE
story that he would expect them reasonably to wish to play an
active rold in the Inquiry by assisting in the collation and
presentation of evidence and by making representations, usually
with the assistance of lawyers. He states that any individual
who has reason to anticipate significant personal criticism is
likely to have a strong case for legal representation.
- Third stage: (not described in the document from Phillips)
This would be the writing up and presentation of the findings.
More precise timing of the layout of
the inquiry
- February
- Committee make decisions about who may
participate in the Inquiry and recommendations on whether legal
costs should be borne by public funds. Written statements begin
to be submitted, especially bythose who will be called to give
oral evidence in March.
- March.
- Phase 1 fact finding hearings begin.
- Wks beginning 2,9,16, 23 and 30 March.
-
Introductory statements by Counsel to the Inquiry and others:
evidence on current state of knowledge about BSE and nvCJD and
from Advisory committees; other scientific evidence; possible
Round Table to discuss conflicting views if required.
- April 10-17
- Easter break
- Wks beginning 20 April to mid July.
- Evidence on
animal feedstuffs and by-products etc leading up to the outbreak
of BSE; evidence from civil servants, families of nvCJD victims,
farming and feestuffs industries, consumer groups; etc evidence
from former minsters.
- Mid July.
- Final hearings in Phase 1
- By end July.
- Preparation of letters to Phase 2
witnesses about potential criticisms.
- August.
- Phase 2 witnesses prepare and submit
statements responding to potential criticisms. Participants
notify Inquiry of questions they wish to ask. Committee decide
whether to permit such questions.
- September.
- Phase 2 hearings to deal with
potential criticisms begin
- September wks beginning 7,14,21 and 28.
-
Hearingsat which those subject to criticisms attend to respond
to those criticisms.
- October wks beginning 5 and 9.
- Hearings continue.
- Mid October.
- Final submissions by Counsel to the
Inquiry following any submissions by participants
- November/December.
- Drafting of Report.
- 31 December.
- Report due to be delivered to
Minister.
LATEST NEWS
News update of the inquiry
4.3.98 The opening of the www.bse.org.uk web site for
the inquiry. This seems to be starting slowly and will be a lot
of hard work for the computer people there.
3.3.98 Large amounts of data moving in to the Inquiry.
They are clearly out to get everything that they can. Dealler
says that they have got every letter he has ever sent to anyone
on the subject! (and that's a lot of paper)
2.3.98 They have now given out data on what is taking
place and in what order. It seems that David Bode (the lawyer
on behalf of the nvCJD and HGH relatives) will be starting first
on the 9th March and that the place will be over run. The
following day will be given to the relatives of the patients.
After that it seems to go over to MAFF and scientists.
23.2.98Address changed. Now: Hercules House, Hercules
Rd, Lambeth North, London SE1 7DU. Phone number is now 0171 261
8411. The free line has now stopped (or at least it is not
answered). Still not on the internet as a web site.
16.2.98Supposedly the last day for having a statement
sent to the Inquiry for the first phase i.e. stating exactly
what was happening during the BSE period. They also want a CV,
statement of sources of funding, all documents that are
available concerning what went on, lists of names and addresses
of all people that may be involved with the subject.
12.2.98Hotting up. Rob Will and James Ironside, major
witnesses to the Inquiry could either not go to the meeting with
WHO in Geneva or had to leave early because of putting together
the information that was needed by them by 16.2.98. This must
have seemed a very rapid demand for information. Also, one of
the worries is that not all the people that are essential to
find out what actually took place will actually be contacted in
time.
27.1.98 Announcement took place. An initial document
explaining the position of the inquiry, its, method of activity,
the way in which information will be accepted to the inquiry,
and who will be present on it, was handed out to the press and
to a large number of the relatives of patients with nvCJD. This
was a short report and the inquiry retired to get on with
things. Phillips wanted to make it clear to the journalists
that he felt no risk was being taken by any member of staff of
official organisations as they had been given specific advice
from heads of department. He also said that politicians have
agreed to give evidence.
27.1.98 Letters were sent out to everyone that has
already sent information to the inquiry thanking them for their
data, and explaining how the inquiry will work. It also
explains how legal advice could be sought by the person coming
to the inquiry if they feel that they may be putting themsleves
at risk.
26.1.98 Announcement of the activities are to take place
at the Methodist Church, opposite to Westminster. There is to be
a major meeting with the relatives of patients that have died of
nvCJD at the site. Already there have been some people invited
to give witness but neither these, nor the scientific advisor
have been named.
26.1.98 Announcement that the public inquiry will be
posted on the internet concurrently with it being carried out.
No web site is yet available but this will happen.
Further details will now be found under the run up to the Phillips Inquiry
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