HC Deb 04 February 1985 vol 72 cc422-3W
Dr. David Clark

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what monitoring of air for pesticide level is or has been carried out within the Palace of Westminster;

(2) which pesticides are used and have been used in treating wood, timbers or fabrics within the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Mr. Macfarlane

The following pesticides are known to be used in the Palace of Westminster:

Kitchens Phenitrothion Brodifacoum Deltamethrin

Westminster hall Cooper WDP

Furniture Cuprinol

Some building materials, such as timber and plywood, are likely to have been treated with pesticide during manufacture but the chemicals used are not normally made known. It is, however, known that the plywood backing of the painted panels in the restored ceiling of the Chamber of the House of Lords was treated with Basileum SPI. Large items of furniture which have been attacked by pests are treated off-site, by commercial contractors. My Department does not keep records of the materials used.

The level of pesticide in the air is monitored only in Westminster hall for a period immediately after the timbers have been sprayed.