HC Deb 13 April 1970 vol 799 cc1007-8
20. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what study he had made of the evidence supplied to him by the hon. Member for South Bedfordshire of the sale of carcinogenic ortho-tolidine to the general public for use by diabetics in glucose test; if he will take steps to ensure that all carcinogenic substances have to be clearly labelled so as to warn the public of the dangers; and if he will make a statement.

Dr. John Dunwoody

My inquiries into the matters raised by my hon. Friend are not yet complete and I will write to him.

Mr. Roberts

Does my hon. Friend accept that there is a need for scientific tests to ensure that these test-strips do not cause any danger to the diabetics who use them or their families or the public in general after their disposal? If there is even the slighest possibility of danger, these test-strips should carry clear warning notices.

Dr. Dunwoody

It is because I want to look further into the questions raised by my hon. Friend in his original letter and his supplementary question that I am checking on the accuracy of the information given to him and asking for further inquiries to be made. However, I do not think that we should get this problem out of proportion. The risks, at most, are exceedingly minimal.