§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the findings of his Department on research into dichlorvos, and its application in fish farming.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythScientists at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries marine laboratory have carried out a number of studies on the effects of dichlorvos on marine species, in particular, lobster and herring larvae, mussels and invertebrates, and on the fate of dichlorvos in sea water. Reports of these studies were placed in the Library on 22 June 1990 and they have also been made available as Scottish fisheries working papers.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has also carried out surveys of farmed salmon as part of its on-going food surveillance work. Between 1987 and 1989, a total of 92 salmon samples were obtained from farms, processors and markets. No residues of dichlorvos were detected. Details of this work will be published in due course.