HL Deb 05 December 1961 vol 236 cc16-8
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD (EARL WALDEGRAVE)

My Lords, with the permission of the House, perhaps I may now make a short statement which s as follows: The Report of the Research Study Group on Toxic Chemicals in Agriculture and Food Storage has been published to-day. Copies have been placed in the Printed Paper Office. This group of scientists has made a thorough survey of the considerable amount of research now going on into the use of toxic chemicals in agriculture and food storage, with particular referenceto protecting human beings, farm animals, bees and the different forms of wild life against possible hazards.

The conclusions of the Report are that protective measures now in force are generally successful, but it affirms and spells out the need for more fundamental and applied research into various problems arising in this field. The Government accept the conclusions and intend to implement the Group's recommendations to the full extent of the additional resources which can be made available.

The Government are indebted to Professor Sanders and his colleagues for their helpful Report.

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, we have not had an opportunity to study the Report. May I ask whether the Committee indicate what particular measures are successful, in view of the heavy destruction which was caused previously, or are they suggesting that the measures now taken to restrict the use of certain toxic chemicals at certain seasons of the year will be successful in the future?

EARL WALDEGRAVE

My Lords, the Report, as noble Lords will find when they come to read it, summarises a number of ways in which additional work, and additional fundamental and applied research, are needed. They came to the conclusion on examining the evidence that, on the whole—I will quote the words again which I used in the statement: … protective measures now in force are generally successful … but that further research is needed.

LORD DOUGLAS OF BARLOCH

My Lords, is there any proposal in this Report that statutory effect should be given by regulations to prevent or to minimise the amount of toxic chemicals getting into foodstuffs?

EARL WALDEGRAVE

No. my Lords. I think, with respect, it would perhaps be more convenient for the House if we could study this Report and its number of recommendations first. If noble Lords want to discuss it and debate it, I have no doubt it can be arranged through the usual channels.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, could I draw the noble Earl's attention to an article in the British Medical Journal of the week before last on this question, in which it states that our knowledge of the toxic effects of many of these food additives, whether fertilisers or other materials added to the food to-day to preserve it, and so on, is very limited? In fact it is a most alarming article in which this authoritative paper, the British Medical Journal, warns the public consuming these foods that there is no authoritative Committee manned by people with specialist knowledge which can definitely say what is harmful and what is not.

EARL WALDEGRAVE

My Lords, I am afraid I have to confess to the noble Baroness that I have not read that report yet. Now that she has drawn it to my attention I am sure that the noble Viscount the Lord President of the Council and the appropriate Ministers and I myself will study it with the greatestcare.

LORD FARINGDON

My Lords, is the noble Earl aware that the complacency of the Committee would not be shared by beekeepers in this country?

EARL WALDEGRAVE

My Lords, I think when the noble Lord has read this report he will not find it unduly complacent.

LORD WALSTON

My Lords, will the Minister assure us he will not wait for a debate to take place in this House or in another place before his Department and that of the Minister for Science give urgent consideration to the need to provide fresh funds to carry out the extra research which this Report says is needed?

EARL WALDEGRAVE

My Lords, the provision of funds is always a matter to be considered in the appropriate quarters. I hope the House will accept what I have said: that the Government accept the conclusions and intend to implement there commendations to the full extent of the resources which can be made available.