§ Mrs. Faithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much British agricultural exports to other European Community countries have risen over the past 12 months; and whether he will show the rise in sectoral terms.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe most recent available information is shown in the table below:
§ Mr. WigginNo such evidence has reached my Department from these companies.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the progress of discussions within the appropriate European Economic Community bodies on the toxicity of the herbicide 2,4,5-T and other dioxin compounds.
§ Mr. WigginI am informed that the European Community review, to which I referred in my replies to the hon. Member of 21 July and 26 November 1980, is still continuing. —[Vol. 989, c.96–97; Vol. 994, c. 152].
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies have been made by his Department of the relationship between the herbicide 2,4,5-T and the incidence of soft tissue cancer.
§ Mr. WigginIt is the practice of Departments concerned to refer any available data on such matters to the expert Advisory Committee on Pesticides.
§ Mr. Ray Powellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) to what extent the chemical 2, 4.5-T is used in England; and what steps are being taken to restrict its use;
295W(2) to what extent the chemical 2,4,5-T is used in Scotland; and what steps are being taken to restrict its use.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe most recent departmental survey related to the calendar year 1979 and was on a United Kingdom basis. Full details were published in the December 1980 report of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and I am sending the hon. Member a copy. The Government have no proposals for restricting recommended uses of these products.