§ 2. Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many known cases of organophosphate poisoning in England and Wales in 1994 and 1995 were notified to his Department; and if he will make a statement. [18385]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Mr. John Horam)Suspected adverse reactions involving veterinary medicines are notified to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and those involving pesticides to the Health and Safety Executive, and my Department is informed. Some 47 suspected adverse reactions to organophosphate sheep dips were reported in 1994 and 40 provisionally in 1995 in the United Kingdom. There were 29 cases of suspected organophosphate poisoning from pesticides in Great Britain in 1993–94 and 43 in 1994–95. My Department will shortly be publishing updated guidance for doctors on pesticide poisoning, which includes a reminder of the notification schemes.
§ Mr. LlwydI take no comfort from the Minister's answer, bearing in mind the fact that, since 1985, the Health and Safety Executive has made it a notifiable occurrence. Before long, the Government will be viewed by history as another Nero, who fiddled while Rome burned. While the Department of Health has played ping-pong with the subject—throwing it back and forth to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food—thousands of people in England, Wales and Scotland have fallen ill with that terrible disease. When will the Department get to grips with the problem by ensuring that those substances are banned and compensating the thousands of people who have suffered as a result of the illness?
§ Mr. HoramAs the hon. Gentleman will be aware, the Veterinary Products Committee, which is the appropriate authority, has always said that the pesticides should not be banned. As I said in my original reply, we are issuing new guidance to doctors. The hon. Gentleman will also be aware that the Government are considering the Select Committee report on the matter and taking it very seriously.