§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of his discussions with the Board of Science of the British Medical Association on the collation of reports of suspicion of drugs or pesticide-presence to a central body within his Department.
§ Mr. DorrellConsideration is being given to the possibility of establishing a card system whereby GPs would report any adverse reactions attributed to exposure to pesticides. This could include poisoning from residues in food.
We are also considering supporting research into the possibility of a causal link between very small pesticide residues in food and specific cases of human ill-health. So far no such research has been devised.
The surveillance of food for pesticide residues is carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with guidance from the Department on public health aspects.