VISCOUNT ELIBANKMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, seeing that most of the arsenical sprays, as also some of the organophosphorous compounds, have been taken off the market, but that there are many still remaining which are particularly deadly to wild life, they will prohibit the use of these latter sprays which are not essentials of good farming.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD (EARL WALDEGRAVE)No, my Lords. I am glad that through action by the agricultural chemical industry some of the more toxic organo-phosphorous sprays have been superseded by less toxic compounds, but this group of sprays has a valuable use in agriculture in checking the depredations of insects and other pests. Detailed precautions are published which are designed to minimise the risks to wild life.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKMy Lords, I beg to thank the noble Earl for his Answer. Is he aware that far more research is desperately needed into the long-term effects of these toxic sprays on soil, on the ecology of animal life and plant life and on human health? And has his attention been drawn to a notice of a meeting of a Council of Nature in February in which many interests were represented and in which concern was expressed at the often unintended effect on wild life, and occasionally on human life, of these sprays? And is he further 220 aware that there was general recognition that what was needed, above all, was much more research into the effect on wild life—especially on beneficial insects, which, as we all know, are one of the chief things—of the increasing use of these toxic sprays? May I ask the noble Earl whether he will ensure that this Council of Nature is assisted in every possible way in its researches into these important matters?
EARL WALDEGRAVEMy Lords, my right honourable friend is well aware of the need for research into this complex matter. It is being examined at the moment under a Research Study Group set up under the chairmanship of our Chief Agricultural Scientific Adviser. The Advisory Committee on Poisonous Substances Used in Agriculture and Food Storage has also set up a panel consisting of representatives of the agricultural chemical industry, the Nature Conservancy, and the Scientific Sub-Committee of the Advisory Committee. This panel will prepare guidance for the agricultural chemical industry on the type of data about wild life hazards which should be provided by manufacturers when notifying toxic chemicals to the Advisory Committee.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKMy Lords, the noble Earl would not deny that this Council of Nature is doing useful work. Would he give every assistance possible in the prosecution of its deliberations?
EARL WALDEGRAVEMy Lords, I am sure that this Council is doing admirable work and will be helped in every way in its deliberations.
§ LORD DOUGLAS OF BARLOCHMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether the assumption made in the noble Viscount's question, that most arsenical sprays have been taken off the market, is correct? Is it not a fact that only one limited class of them is being taken off the market, and is it not well known that arsenic is capable of causing cancer?
EARL WALDEGRAVEMy Lords, as the noble Lord I think knows well, the arsenical products which are coming off the market and will not be used after this season are the alkali arsenites which are used for weed and haulm destruction. As far as I am aware, most, if not all, other arsenicals are pesticides, such as lead arsenate.
§ LORD DOUGLAS OF BARLOCHMy Lords, is there not a danger of their contaminating foodstuffs?
EARL WALDEGRAVEMy Lords, bearing in mind all the precautions that are issued, I think that the danger of contaminating foodstuffs is minimal.