HC Deb 03 March 1980 vol 980 cc7-8W
Mr. Hooley

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what foetal abnormalities have been detected in animals from contact with or ingestion of dioxin compounds used in the herbicide 2,4,5-T.

Mr. Wiggin

Such compounds are not used in the herbicide 2,4,5-T. I am not aware of any evidence of foetal abnormalities in animals which have been exposed to 2,4,5-T.

Mr. Hooley

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been made to his Department by the Trades Union Congress about the use of the herbicide 2,4,5-T.

Mr. Wiggin

None.

Mr. Hooley

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions in the past 10 years the use of herbicide 2,4,5-T has been referred to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides.

Mr. Wiggin

Nine times.

Mr. Hooley

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions his Department has had with the United States Environmental Protection Agency about the toxicity of the herbicide 2,4,5-T following the ban on its use by that agency in March 1979.

Mr. Wiggin

The subject was discussed at a tripartite meeting last autumn between American, Canadian, and United Kingdom specialists.

Mr. Hooley

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantities of the herbicide 2,4,5,-T were used by the Forestry Commission in 1977, 1978 and 1979.

Mr. Wiggin

The quantities used were as follows:

Year Annual usage (tonnes)
1977 1.0 (estimate)
1978 1.6
1979 1.25

Mr. Hooley

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been made to his Department by the union of agricultural workers about the use of the herbicide 2,4,5-T; and what reply was given.

Mr. Peter Walker

When I met the NUAAW on 16 November on other matters I invited its executive to submit a paper to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and undertook to arrange a meeting between the executive and the committee. I have not yet received the paper.

Mr. Hooley

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in which European countries outside the European Economic Community the use of the herbicide 2,4,5-T is known to be prohibited.

Mr. Wiggin

Norway and Sweden.

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