Homeopathy is risky and useless: Scientist

London, Dec 7 (UNI) Homeopathic medicine is putting lives at risk and is useless, according to British government's top scientist.

Speaking to MPs, chief scientific adviser to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Sir David King, said,''There is not one jot of evidence supporting the notion that homeopathic medicines are of any assistance whatsoever.

''Therefore, I would say they are a risk to the population because people may take them expecting they are dealing with a serious problem,'' the Daily Mail quoted him as saying.

Sir David criticised the Department of Health for funding homeopathic treatments.

Liberal Democrat MP Dr Evan Harris said homeopathic treatment was difficult to justify when it worked ''as a placebo at best and when the NHS cannot afford medicines that are known to be effective.'' UNI