HC Deb 04 March 1985 vol 74 cc361-2W
Mr Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans his Department has to ensure the withdrawal of organochlorine pesticides for the use of timber treatment in roof spaces and other building timbers and to encourage the use of alternatives.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

There are no plans to withdraw the use of all organochlorine pesticides for treatment of timber in roof spaces or other building timbers but the use of such substances which are persistent has been severely restricted. Those in use the United Kingdom have received clearance under the pesticides safety precautions scheme which sets out precautions necessary to ensure safe use. The Government's policy has always been to encourage the industry to use less hazardous alternatives as they become available.

Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps his Department is taking to improve the monitoring of pesticide incidents affecting the public.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

Every incident involving pesticides brought to the attention of HM Agricultural Inspectorate by a member of the public is given most careful consideration and investigated in depth whenever possible. All reported accidents are investigated. Enforcement action may follow the investigation of an incident or accident.

Whenever appropriate, investigations are carried out in conjunction with the employment medical advisory service.

Details of incidents are reported to the agricultural poisons appraisal panel, amongst whose functions is the medical evaluation of the incident.

The Health and Safety Executive and the Health and Safety Commission's agriculture industry advisory committee are well aware of public concern about the use of pesticides and the use of all chemicals on farms is currently the subject of special consideration by a working group 'Chemicals in Agriculture'.

The Agricultural Inspectorate will be featuring the safe use of pesticides as part of a campaign 'Your Health' which began last week and which will be seen by the public at major agricultural shows during the year.

Trends in pesticide use are kept under constant review.