POISONOUS SUBSTANCES IN AGRICULTURE AND FOOD STORAGE (Hansard, 2 December 1964)

THE EARL OF HADDINGTON
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

§ THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR EDUCATION and SCIENCE (LORD BOWDEN)
My Lords, Her Majesty's Government have accepted the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Poisonous Substances used in Agriculture and Food Storage (the Cook Committee) and, having been assured of the co-operation of all the interests concerned, they have decided to give effect to them through the present voluntary scheme. The Cook Committee are now engaged in examining the present voluntary safety 1090 arrangements, and the need for legislation will be considered in the light of their advice.

THE EARL OF HADDINGTON
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his reply, which is satisfactory so far as it goes, but I am afraid that so far as allaying the disquiet which exists over this subject is concerned it does not go very far. May I ask the noble Lord one supplementary question, which is this? Is he aware that, while this voluntary scheme has already been in operation for very nearly three years, dead birds are still being picked up—many of them birds protected by the Birds Protection Act which your Lordships' House passed several years ago—which, when analysed, are found to contain large residues of these highly poisonous substances? Does he not think it time that legislation should rapidly take the place of a voluntary scheme which seems to be open to so many abuses?

§ LORD BOWDEN
My Lords, it has of course been well known, ever since, for example, the publication of that remarkable work by Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, that the risk to bird life is very real. All I can add to the reply I have given is that this is a matter which the Cook Committee are urgently considering, and when they are in a position to recommend positive action I am sure they will do so. In considering the risk to bird life we must not underestimate the enormous advantages to agriculture which accrue from the use of these pesticides. They have enormously increased the yield of almost all agricultural products and, on balance, are of immense benefit to society at large. It is extremely unfortunate that they have these very unpleasant side effects, and it is the constant anxiety of the Cook Committee and the manufacturers to produce insecticides of various types which have the desired effect with as few side effects as possible. This is the subject of very earnest discussion and research, and of course is the direct concern of the Cook Committee.

§ LORD DOUGLAS OF BARLOCH
My Lords, in the consideration of this matter will my noble friend bear in mind that it has been found necessary in the United States, for example, to prohibit pesticides or to set limits upon the residues of pesticides which may be found 1091 in food, and this has required legislation just as other measures to protect food supplies have required legislation?

§ LORD BOWDEN
Indeed, this is obviously a matter of very great importance which is, along with all the related subjects, actively being considered by our Committee specially charged with the whole responsibility for studying the subject.

LORD SALTOUN
My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether, in considering this matter, he will put special emphasis on the effect of many of these pesticides to inhibit the breeding capacity of birds? It has not been sufficiently emphasised.

§ LORD BOWDEN
Indeed; and if the noble Lord will be good enough to let us have any evidence known to him on this particular aspect I am sure it will be extremely valuable to us.

LORD SALTOUN
My Lords, has the noble Lord heard of the osprey in Scotland?

§ LORD BOWDEN
Yes, of course.

THE EARL OF HALSBURY
My Lords, does the noble Lord know that eagles are becoming extinct in the Highlands of Scotland where they pick up insecticides from sheep wool?