HL Deb 18 March 1996 vol 570 cc1068-70

2.53 p.m.

The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the effects on human health of chronic, low level exposure to organophosphate pesticides and veterinary medicines are recognised by the Department of Health.

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, no human syndrome associated with long-term exposure to organophosphate pesticides or veterinary medicines at levels below those which can cause acute effects has been identified. However, the Government are funding research by the Institute of Occupational Health in Edinburgh into the possible long-term human health effects of organophosphorus sheep dips.

The Countess of Mar

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for her reply. Does she recall that on 24th January, in response to a Question from me, she said that the Chief Medical Officer had circulated GPs with a certain amount of information and added: I believe that some covered chronic illness also"?—[Official Report, 26/12/96; col. 1034.] Is she aware that last week, on 12th March, when he was asked a question about OP poisoning, her honourable friend in another place said: My Department will shortly be publishing updated guidance for doctors on pesticide poisoning, which includes a reminder of the notification schemes"?—[Official Report, Commons, 12/3/96; col. 768.] Will that information contain anything about the chronic effects of exposure to OPs? How soon is "shortly"? When the noble Baroness mentioned the matter on 24th January she used the words "very shortly" and when her right honourable friend spoke about it last week, he used the word "shortly".

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, it will include information on chronic health effects. It is a much more comprehensive booklet. It relies on new medical and scientific advances. It will be published by Easter and will be sent to general practitioners, accident and emergency departments and consultants in communicable diseases. It will be on sale by HMSO and I shall ensure that the noble Countess receives a free copy.

Baroness Jay of Paddington

My Lords, does the Minister's reply, which is welcome given that she has told us that that will happen very quickly, reflect that it is now supposed that GPs have not been as well briefed on the subject as has been suggested previously? The noble Baroness may remember that when the noble Countess has asked this Question before in a slightly different form we have always been assured that general practitioners were both well-informed and fully capable of dealing with the matter. Does the new guidance suggest that that may not be the case, which would be rather worrying in view of the large number of cases?

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, that is not the case. In fact, this booklet was first produced in 1986, and it has been updated. The purpose is to ensure that general practitioners are now more aware of the medical advances which have taken place. But the Chief Medical Officer wrote to all GPs—indeed all doctors—in 1991 and again in 1993 and published an article in the Chief Medical Officers' Update in October 1995. Therefore, we are trying to ensure that GPs in particular are aware of the situation.

Baroness Jay of Paddington

My Lords, I am sorry to come back to the Minister but it is important to clarify the matter. Is she saying that, although her honourable friend in another place said last week that this is to be new guidance to general practitioners, it is simply a revision of a previous booklet?

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, it is an updated version of a previous booklet. It is a new version. I do not see that there is a tremendous significance between updating existing guidance, taking into account medical advances and ensuring that it is much more comprehensive, and producing an entirely new booklet.

The Countess of Mar

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for the information which she has just given me, in particular about the booklet to be published soon. But will she use the NHS publicity machine to make sure that all GPs are aware of the effects of organophosphates? The Minister will be aware from a sample of the letters that I have sent her recently that patients are suffering terribly because their GPs and consultants do not understand their condition.

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, yes, we shall try to do all that we can to make doctors aware of this problem.

Lord Mackie of Benshie

My Lords, is it not time for the Government to consider whether the use of organophosphates is worth the threat to human health?

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, the noble Lord will be aware that organophosphates are used for many purposes. They are used not only for sheep dips but also for pesticides. That matter is under constant review by the advisory bodies from which the Government seek advice. They are keeping the matter under constant review. I am sure that sheep farmers will say that it is important to ensure that flocks are in good condition.