HC Deb 20 March 1990 vol 169 c580W
Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will review the guidelines for the use of lindane, tributyltin, and other anti-rot wood treatment chemicals for use in the construction of schools and other buildings for subsequent occupation by children, subsequent to the problems at Ysgol Gymraeg Treganna, Radnor road, Canton, Cardiff in 1989;

(2) if he will issue new guidelines to education authorities in Wales regarding the use of lindane, tributyltin and other similar anti-rot wood treatment chemicals in the refurbishment of the timbers of old school buildings, following the problems at Ysgol Gymraeg Treganna, Radnor road, Canton, Cardiff in 1989.

Mr. Nicholls

Wood preservatives are approved by Ministers subject to rigid conditions of use which appear on the label of the product. Ministers are advised by the independent advisory committee on pesticides, which, as part of an on-going programme, is currently undertaking reviews of lindane and tributyltin oxide in wood preservatives. I understand that investigations at Ysgol Gymraeg Treganna were unable to establish a link between incidences of sickness and the use of wood preservatives at the school.

Forward to