HL Deb 21 June 1979 vol 400 cc1104-6

3.3 p.m.

Lord HALE

My Lords, if it be the wish of the House, then, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps have been taken to restrict and control the continued import of products containing dioxin, in view of the evidence of its extreme toxicity and of recent drastic action taken in other countries.

Lord SANDYS

My Lords, the necessary safeguards in the United Kingdom relate to marketing generally, rather than only to imports. The Medicines (Hexachlorophane Prohibition) Order 1973 prescribes the very limited circumstances in which such products can be supplied for medicinal and allied purposes. When they are supplied for use on the land, their marketing is subject to the Pesticides Safety Precautions Scheme. In the light of data from our own and other countries, the Advisory Committee on Pesticides has lately undertaken a detailed review of United Kingdom safeguards concerned with dioxin. I am sending the noble Lord a copy of the reassuring report which the committee has rendered.

Lord HALE

My Lords, while thanking the Minister for that helpful Answer, it was not quite clear. I thought he said that the Committee on Pesticides was considering the matter, and then I under- stood him to say that he would send me a copy of the report. Does he mean that when it arrives one can still make representations and submit evidence to the committee, or what is the procedure? May I make just this quick point: Dioxin has been banned throughout America, or certainly throughout the State of Oregon and the forest there, by the Experimental Advisory Agency. It is the subject of what is nearly a civil war in Italy. It has been described by a prominent American chemist as the most dangerous poison in the world, and it is now known that under heat people are being killed by innocently putting herbs on bonfires.

Lord SANDYS

My Lords, the noble Lord underlines the fact that this is a very technical subject and certain other countries have indeed banned it. I would remind the noble Lord that it is banned in the United States of America for certain purposes only, and it is perfectly true that a ban exists in the Netherlands. It is, however, in use in France and Germany subject to limitations and inspections. But I would remind the noble Lord of one other factor, which is that the Advisory Committee on Pesticides is the body which advises the Government on all matters relating to this and no Government, past or present, has ever acted other than upon the advice of that committee.

Lord WYNNE-JONES

My Lords, will the noble Lord pay attention to the fact that, although he is quite right in saying that expert opinion has been consulted, and indeed a lot of trouble has been taken, there is still a good deal of disquiet about this matter? If the consequences are as serious as has been suggested by several people, they can affect mankind quite considerably. Therefore, it is not good enough simply to say that expert advice has been taken. I speak as one who in some respects is sometimes regarded as an expert, and therefore I know only too well how dangerous it is to rely simply on such expert advice. Therefore, will the noble Lord press the Government to pay the closest possible attention to this matter and to look into all the ramifications?

Lord SANDYS

My Lords, I will most certainly draw the attention of my right honourable friend to all the remarks made by both noble Lords in your Lordships' House this afternoon. Of course, this matter has very wide implications in the whole field of pollution.