§ Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what health checks have been made on creosote and other wood preservatives to ensure that their level of toxicity is kept within safe limits; and if he will make it his policy that such substances should bear a health hazard warning.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyI have been asked to reply.
The sale of wood preservatives in the United Kingdom is controlled by formal agreement under the pesticides safety precautions scheme. Under this scheme, new active ingredients must be notified to the Health and Safety 446W Executive and cleared by an independent panel of experts before they are put on sale. Containers must have a label giving precautions for use together with the appropriate hazard symbol. The Government are taking steps to introduce legislation to give statutory backing to these arrangements.