HL Deb 14 April 1993 vol 544 c67WA
Lord Ashley of Stoke

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On how many occasions the National Advisory Committee on Pesticides has investigated whether clusters of congenital abnormalities could be related to pesticide use; for which pesticides was there suspicion of a connection; and what was the result of the investigation.

Earl Howe

The Advisory Committee on Pesticides has been in existence since 1954. I regret that this question could only be answered at disproportionate cost.

Lord Ashley of Stoke

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the National Advisory Committee on Pesticides was provided with a list of areas where benomyl was used when they discussed this matter on 4th March; and whether they will place this information in the Library.

Earl Howe

At its meeting on 4th March the Advisory Committee on Pesticides considered the results of a recent Californian study designed to test the mechanisms of action of benomyl at high doses and under severe experimental conditions. The Committee did not examine data on areas where benomyl is used.