§ Sir Richard BodyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will discuss with the farming and agrochemical industries measures to reduce the use of pesticides in agricultural production and storage.
§ Mr. MacleanThe Government's policy is that the use of pesticides should be the minimum compatible with efficient food production. Government funding of related research and development amounts to some £18 million per annum and the results are published. A proposed code of practice containing advice on the safe use of pesticides on farms and holdings has been laid before Parliament.
§ Sir Richard BodyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he is taking to ensure that food consumers are safe from exposure to pesticides used in food production and storage.
§ Mr. MacleanNo pesticide may be used in this country until it has been approved by Ministers in six Government Departments including my Department and the Department of Health. No pesticide is approved for use unless Ministers are satisfied that it presents no risk to 75W consumers. The approvals process is backed up by statutory residue levels, which apply to both imported and home-grown produce, and by monitoring carried out by the working party on pesticide residues. The results of monitoring are published.
§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations he has made to the EC on the off-label clearance scheme;
(2) what representations he has received about the outlawing of the off-label clearance scheme; and what effect this will have on small horticulture units in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. MacleanTalks on EC proposals for pesticide approvals are continuing in the Council working group. The United Kingdom Government are very aware of the need to protect off-label approvals and are pressing for acceptable wording. The National Farmers Union is being kept informed.
All submissions to Veterinary Investigation Centres in England and Wales 1985–89 (provisional) Veterinary investigation centre 1985 1986 1987 1988 11989 Aberystwyth 4,925 3,308 3,586 4,041 3,868 Bangor 4,287 4,024 4,472 4,975 5,515 Bristol 14,293 15,741 15,770 17,324 17,863 Cambridge 7,450 7,693 8,258 8,637 9,740 Cardiff 1,598 339 — — — Carmarthen 7,296 7,828 7,886 7,488 9,181 Chester 3,714 818 — — — Gloucester 7,738 3,599 — — — Leeds 7,020 2,625 — — — Lincoln 4,283 6,182 8,239 7,559 8,232 Newcastle 7,070 7,349 9,002 8,000 13,966 Northampton 3,194 1,266 — — — Norwich 6,668 5,935 5,265 6,366 6,918 Penrith 9,148 9,407 9,234 11,165 10,535 Preston 4,320 8,562 10,048 11,166 10,172 Reading 5,732 5,868 5,847 5,774 7,624 Shrewsbury 8,244 9,380 9,663 7,520 11,207 Starcross 9,678 8,889 9,051 10,418 12,862 Sutton Bonington 7,018 7,143 7,641 8,667 10,381 Thirsk 6,620 6,583 6,427 9,576 10,173 Truro 4,267 4,203 5,032 6,421 7,615 Winchester 6,240 6,598 6,334 7,225 7,297 Worcester 7,761 8,282 8,944 7,607 7,681 Wye 4,128 3,652 3,208 3,739 4,368 1 Figures for 1989 are provisional.