Fish Farms (Hansard, 11 January 1989)

§ Dr. Godman
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow may expect an answer to his letter dated 5 November 1988 to the Minister of State at his Department on the subject of predator control on marine fish farms.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
My noble Friend the Minister of State has written to the hon. Member today.

§ Dr. Godman
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if workers employed on fish farms are covered by the terms of the Agricultural Wages Board Order; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
The orders made by the Scottish agricultural wages board relate to workers employed in agriculture as defined in section 17 of the Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Act 1949, the interpretation of which is a matter for the courts. To date fish farming has not been considered to be an activity included within the definition.

§ Dr. Godman
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make available to the public the results of research into the presence of residues of Nuvan 500 EC in salmon flesh; and if he will make a statement;
(2) when and where the results of research into the environmental and health effects of the use on marine fish farms of Nuvan 500 EC will be published; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 28 November 1988.
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§ Dr. Godman
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether(a) all products known as pesticides and (b) Nuvan 500 EC should comply with the Control of Pesticides Regulations for the supply to, and storage and handling on, marine fish farms; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
The Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 cover pesticides as defined in regulation 3 including Nuvan 500 EC as approved for use in poultryhouses. The regulations apply to sale, supply, storage, use and advertisement in Scotland as well as England and Wales.
Any product or substance that is added to the water or given orally or otherwise for the treatment, control or prevention of ectoparasites on farmed fish however, is defined as an animal medicine and is subject to controls under the Medicines Act 1968.