§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what steps have been taken to ensure that the eating of fruit and vegetables treated with pesticides by growers and purchased by shoppers in Wales is safe; what steps his Department has taken to examine such fruit and vegetables to determine their freedom from injurious substances; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what steps he takes to monitor the use of pesticide residues in fruit and vegetable production in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerI refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to him today by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Monitoring for pesticide residues is carried out throughout the United Kingdom by the working party on pesticide residues (WPPR). The WPPR programme includes total diet studies incorporating fruit and vegetables. In addition 119W targeted surveys of residues in fruit and vegetables are carried out on a routine basis. Samples from Wales are included in this monitoring.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish his findings concerning pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables in Wales and in fruit and vegetables entering Wales from other parts of the United Kingdom and from abroad; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerFindings of the working party on pesticide residues which monitors United Kingdom food supplies for pesticide residues are published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Where appropriate the location of a particular residue problem is indicated but results are generally consistent throughout the United Kingdom. The WPPR monitors imported produce as well as home production.