§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the report on dioxins will be published; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe Department of the Environment has today published a report, "Dioxins in the Environment", in the pollution paper series. It is the report of an interdepartmental working group on poly chlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans. The report is the culmination of work on dioxins which began two years ago. Copies have been placed in the Library.
The main purpose of the report is to make available the best information we have on dioxins from the United 205W Kingdom and elsewhere. There is an analysis of what this means in terms of possible human health effects and environmental impact.
Advice on the health effects of dioxins from the Department of Health's independent advisory committee on toxicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment is also included in the report.
It recommends that the major sources of dioxins should be identified and appropriate measures taken to reduce inputs of dioxins to food, consumer products and the environment.
The Government welcome this advice and have already taken steps to implement the committee's recommendations.
The report has been compiled jointly by the central directorate for environmental protection in DOE, the Department of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Health and Safety Executive.