§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how the pesticide Aldicarb is classified by the World Health Organisation;
(2) if his Department will study the effects of the toxicity of Aldicarb on humans who fail to regard instructions concerning its use.
Mr. PattenThe World Health Organisation, in its classification of technical compounds used in pesticides, lists Aldicarb in class A1, that is "extremely hazardous". Data on the toxicity of this pesticide to humans who mishandle it exist in the USA and is summarised in a World Health Organisation/Food and Agriculture Organisation data sheet on pesticides. Also, under the United Kingdom's pesticide safety precaution scheme, pesticides are continually reviewed for, among other things, toxicity to humans.