§ 3.23 p.m.
LORD ST. OSWALDMy Lords, I have to inform the. House that on May 30 I unwittingly misled the noble Lord, Lord Shackleton, in my reply to one of his supplementary questions on the use of toxic chemicals in the garden. The substantive Question was concerned with the recent Ministry of Agriculture publication Chemicals for the Gardener, which contains selections from the list of approved chemicals suitable for garden use. It was not correct to say, as I did, that the Advisory Committee on Poisonous Substances used in Agriculture and Food Storage themselves had approved the booklet as such. At the time I believed this to be the case. I wish therefore to extend my apology to the noble Lord and to the House.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for his statement. It was not I who was misled, but the House, but I am quite sure that there is nobody in this House who would have thought for one moment that the noble Lord had any intention to deceive. This is not possible with regard to him. I am very grateful to him. He will not be surprised that I shall now return to the attack with redoubled vigour.