§ 8. Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has yet received a report from his Advisory Committee on pesticides and other toxic chemicals; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsThe Committee presented a report in February, 1964 and a supplementary report in July, 1964 on the persistent organo-chlorine pesticides. The Government accepted and implemented their recommendations in consultation with manufacturers. Since then the Committee, besides continuing to provide advice to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for the operation of Safety Precautions Schemes for pesticides and veterinary products, has been engaged on a major review of present safety arrangements for the use of pesticides in agriculture and food storage and possible improvements or extensions. A report on this subject will be made to Ministers, probably by the end of this year.
§ Mr. WalkerWill the hon. Gentleman not agree that the much more urgent question of organo-phosporus compounds demands a report very quickly, and that one of the most lethal of these, parathion, is more deadly than potassium cyanide and has already been responsible for many deaths? Will he take steps to get the Committee to report 1870 on this with a view to banning its use as quickly as possible?
§ Mr. RobertsThe Committee has been asked to consider and advise on any improvements and extensions to the present safety arrangements which may be desirable. In particular, it is considering whether stricter criteria should be applied when considering new products.