HC Deb 16 March 1978 vol 946 c285W
40. Miss Maynard

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give an assurance that the fumigant, methyl bromide, will continue to be applied only by private licensed contractors when used in the horticultural industry.

Mr. Strang

Under existing arrangements, only authorised servicing companies may apply this fumigant in agriculture or horticulture. I am informed that the Advisory Committee on Pesticides has neither received nor considered any proposal for modifying these arrangements; and in view of the toxic properties of this substance, I am sure that the committee would look critically at any suggestion, from any quarter, that existing safeguards should be relaxed in any way.