§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the answer of 6 March,Official Report, columns 559–60, what levels of lindane have been detected; and what level is regarded as posing a threat to marine life.
§ Mr. CurryScientists from my Department conducted a survey of the concentrations of lindane in the waters of the English Channel in November last year. The concentrations of lindane found were 0.13 to 0.65 ng/l. This compares with 1 to 4 ng/l reported by scientists from the Federal Republic of Germany for the North sea in 1986, when the highest concentrations were found in the German Bight. The safe level for marine life set by United Kingdom authorities is 10 ng/l and that set by the European Community is 20 ng/l.