HC Deb 06 February 1984 vol 53 cc456-7W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, following his reply to the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) of 31 January, Official Report, c. 142, he will ask the Burnham on Crouch laboratory to test the effects of Dinoseb on the fish life in the area where the drums of weedkiller were lost.

Mr. MacGregor

No. Such tests are unlikely to throw further light on our understanding of the situation.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the test mentioned in his reply to the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 31 January, Official Report,n c. 142, were conducted in laboratory conditions or in the actual conditions on the fishing grounds.

Mr. MacGregor

In my reply to the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 31 January, I did not refer to tests. Our marine scientists undertook an assessment based on current scientific knowledge and on discussions with agricultural scientists from the Pesticides Registration Department at our Harpenden laboratory.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reporting procedure is in force for fish caught in the area where Dinoseb weed-killer was lost overboard.

Mr. MacGregor

The area where the drums of Dinoseb were lost is not normally used by British fishermen at this time of year. However, as a precaution fishermen have been advised through district inspectors of fisheries not to fish in the immediate area for the time being but that if anyone has been doing so to inform the district inspector. No such reports have been received.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in the light of the assurance given him by the Burnham on Crouch laboratory, he is satisfied that no harm occurs to individuals on eating fish affected by Dinoseb.

Mr. MacGregor

I am satisfied that it is extremely unlikely that fish supplies from the vicinity of the incident would pose any health hazard.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what search and monitoring procedures he has initiated in the area where Dinoseb was lost overboard early in January.

Mr. MacGregor

Search and recovery operations are being carried out by the Danish authorities who are keeping the Department of Transport's marine pollution control unit informed of progress. They have indicated that they d 3 not require any assistance. As regards monitoring I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 31 January.