§ Lord Moranasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in the light of recent research by the Game Conservancy Trust which suggests that the pesticide dimethoate kills large numbers of insects and has consequently led to a decline in populations of partridges and other birds, they will either ban the use of this pesticide or take steps to phase out its use.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonThe Advisory Committee on Pesticides is embarking on a systematic review of older pesticides and it has decided that dimethoate should be given a high priority. The committee's environmental panel has not been able to establish a link between the use of dimethoate and the population of insects eaten by birds but has asked the Game Conservatory Trust for any data they have, to facilitate the review.