§ Mr. Brandon-Bravoasked the Secretary of State for Employment what action has been taken by the Health and Safety Commission to implement a recommendation in the Advisory Committee on Pesticides' report of December 1982 on phenoxy acid herbicides regarding the need for further research into the risks arising from exposure to chlorophenols and related products in factory situations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerThe Advisory Committee on Pesticides included in its report a recommendation that it would be prudent for the Government to undertake further relevant investigations in factory situations in this country.
In consequence of this recommendation I asked the Health and Safety Commission to consider what further studies in addition to those already being conducted were needed. This matter was examined by the Commission's advisory committee on toxic substances. The Health and Safety Executive's medical division already has four studies in progress on chlorophenols or closely related subjects. The committee concluded that, pending the results of these studies which should become available over the three years 1984 to 1986, it was unable to identify a need for any additional studies to be undertaken at present.