§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) when the Advisory Committee on Pesticides last made a full review of the commercial clearance of paraquat; when the next such full review is intended to take place; and if he will make a statement;
507W(2) when the Advisory Committee on Pesticides last considered the conditions under which paraquat, and preparations containing paraquat, may be sold; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. FennerThe Advisory Committee on Pesticides last reviewed and discussed the commercial clearances of the formulations of paraquat currently available in January 1982. The committee has also received a number of information papers on paraquat and the scientific subcommittee has kept the clearances and uses of paraquat under continuous scrutiny since that date. The timing of the next full review will depend, to some extent, on the results of the public consultation on the implementation of part III of the Food and Environmemt Protection Act.
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of deaths attributable to poisoning by paraquat, both accidental and otherwise, in each of the last five years.
§ Mrs. FennerThe number of deaths attributable to poisoning by paraquat, both accidental or otherwise, in each of the most recent five years for which figures are available are given in the table below:
Deaths from poisoning—England and Wales Paraquat Suicide Others 1978 32 14 1979 26 10 1980 17 7 1981* — — 1982 21 6 1983 26 9 * Figures not available. Source: Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.
Note: None of these deaths were attributable to the normal agricultural use of paraquat.