§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people have been poisoned by pesticides in each year since 1995, indicating the pesticide concerned in each case. [133298]
§ Mr. MeacherComprehensive information on the number of people who are poisoned by pesticides each year is not available. Some information is available from the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) Pesticide Incidents Appraisal Panel, which considers all incidents investigated by HSE or local authorities where the use of a pesticide is alleged to have caused ill health. Summary statistics of such incidents are published annually in HSE's Pesticide Incidents Report. I have asked officials to compile a table listing, for each year since 1995–96, the pesticide active ingredients involved in such incidents, the number of people concerned, and whether or not the Panel assessed the case as having a confirmed or likely link with pesticide exposure. I will arrange for a copy of this table to be placed in the Libraries as soon as possible.