§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now consider banning the herbicide 2,4,5-T, following the findings of the Acheson report linking exposure to 2,4,5-T with soft tissue cancer; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerI assume that the hon. Member is referring to an article by Dr. Coggon and Professor Acheson inThe Lancet of 8 May 1982. I have invited the advisory committee on pesticides, which is the competent advisory body to the Government, to let me have its observations on the article and on any other relevant evidence that has become available since it last reported on the safety of 2,4,5-T herbicides in December 1980.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations he has received from the agricultural allied workers national trade group regarding health hazards to farm workers from 2,4,5-T.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerI discussed this subject with delegations from the then National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers on three occasions between November 1979 and August 1980.