Organophosphorus Sheep Dips (Hansard, 20 March 1995)

§ Lord Inglewood
My Lords, the results of the research belong to the Institute of Occupational Health, not to the Health and Safety Executive. That arrangement was made as an additional guarantee of the independence of the research in this very sensitive area.
The institute is currently having the results peer-reviewed to prevent incorrect or unclear information reaching the public domain, with a view to publishing the findings in an independent journal. Once it has done that, the HSE has its agreement to publish the full research report.

§ The Countess of Mar
My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for that Answer. Is he aware that I am also grateful to him for keeping me as up to date on the subject as he possibly could by writing to me? Does he recall that on 23rd December he wrote to me saying that the Institute of Occupational Health was fast-tracking publication in a scientific journal and hoped to have it published by the end of January? In view of the fact that this research is so important—I entirely agree with the noble Lord on that matter—would not it be a good idea if just for once scientific privilege were forgone and for the Institute of Occupational Health to agree that it should be published? I was told a fortnight ago that, once the HSE received publications such as this on its desk, it expedited publication in its own journal; in other words, within three weeks of receipt. In this case that does not seem to be happening. Will the noble Lord explain why?

§ Lord Inglewood
My Lords, I thank the noble Countess for her kind remarks, As I explained in my Answer, the intellectual property in this important work rests with the Institute of Occupational Health. However, I am sure that all noble Lords will agree that it is important that the report is treated with the seriousness it deserves. In particular, it is important that 1015 the report is considered seriously in the scientific community. In order to achieve that, it is essential that the work is peer-reviewed and published in a well respected scientific journal.
If such findings leak out before publication, it is often the case—and I am advised that it is the case in this instance—that the respectable scientific journal will not publish. If such work is not published in this type of journal, its standing in the eyes of the scientific community is considerably eroded. It follows that its contribution to the important debate will be that much diminished.
It may be of interest to your Lordships that the Institute of Occupational Health has stated that it has considered the matter and believes that: If the results of a study were such that delay in publication would put at risk the health of those currently exposed, or would impair the chances of recovery from any possible effects of exposure, the institute would make every effort to ensure that those responsible for the control of exposure or the treatment of those individuals were informed as soon as possible. However, under the present circumstances, there is no reason to believe that delay in publication for a matter of weeks has any implications for the health of those previously or currently exposed or under treatment".

Lord Bruce of Donington
My Lords, irrespective of the issue of publication, will the Minister reassure the House that the Government are fully aware of the results of the research?

§ Lord Inglewood
My Lords, the matter is currently seized by the HSE, but it is not more widely available.

§ Baroness Turner of Camden
My Lords, how many foreign workers have been notified as suffering from the effects of contact with sheep dips? Will the Minister also say whether there have been any fatalities and what additional steps can be taken to institute further controls? I understand that there is a system of certification but that may be avoided in certain instances.

§ Lord Inglewood
My Lords, I am not in a position to give the figures for which the noble Baroness asked. However, I shall write to her. There is in place a complicated system for controlling the acquisition and use of the products. The Health and Safety Executive will review matters when it has thoroughly digested the implications of the report concerned.

§ Lord Pearson of Rannoch
My Lords, is the Minister worried about the delay which appears to have hit the report from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, which was due to report last summer and which appears to have found a substantial increase in the number of farmers who believe that they have suffered from organophosphates, especially bearing in mind that the Veterinary Medicines Directorate is the body which licenses these products in the first place?

§ Lord Inglewood
My Lords, the delay to which my noble friend refers has been caused solely by the demand in carrying out the assessment and other work involved in considering the cases and preparing the 1016 report. Obviously, we want to see these matters made public as soon as possible but at the same time it is important that they are soundly based.

§ Earl Russell
My Lords, I agree with what the Minister said about peer review and I welcome his reference to a few weeks. However, is he aware that in the academic community there is considerable anxiety about the new research contract introduced in 1988 whereby publication is restricted without the prior consent of the Secretary of State? Does the Minister agree that changing that rule may protect the Government from a suspicion that might perhaps be unjustified?

§ Lord Inglewood
My Lords, I thank the noble Earl for his comments. We shall certainly bear them in mind.

§ The Countess of Mar
My Lords, is the Minister aware that every day I receive letters from OP sufferers who write that their doctors and their consultants do not understànd them? Is he further aware that I am anxious that the report should be published in order that credibility is given to such people? I know of a man in prison as a result of the mental effects of OPs and no one understands what the man is suffering. It is most important that the report is published.

§ Lord Inglewood
My Lords, the noble Countess is right in saying that it is important that the report is published. It will be published and we wish to publish it in a manner that will give it the greatest scientific credibility and that, in turn, will help doctors throughout the country to the greatest extent.