HC Deb 13 January 1997 vol 288 cc121-2W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the work of the organophosphate pesticide investigation team set up on 11 October; and what budget is allotted to support its future work. [9591]

Mr. Soames

The organophosphate pesticide investigation team has not been assigned a separate budget, and costs incurred by its activities currently form part of the budget of the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Programmes and Personnel). The estimated net staff cost associated with the production of the substantive report dated 6 December is £30,725.

Mr. Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to rectify the failings of his Department to keep files in accordance with standing procedures to which reference is made at paragraph 1.B.15 of the report D/OPPIT/3 of his departmental organophosphate pesticide investigation team, dated 6 December. [9594]

Mr. Soames

Steps have been taken to ensure that the administrative support necessary to keep files in accordance with standing procedures is available to those areas of the Department referred to in paragraph 1.B.15 of the organophosphate pesticide investigation team report.

Mr. Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will extend the remit of his organophosphate pesticide investigation team to examine the methodology of earlier studies into effects of organophosphates, to which reference is made in paragraph 1.A.9 in his departmental substantive report of the organophosphate investigation team, dated 6 December. [9672]

Mr. Soames

The earlier MOD documents referred to in paragraph 1.A.9 of the Departmental substantive report of the organophosphate investigation team are concerned with the use of, not the effects of exposure to, organophosphate pesticides. As it made clear in paragraph 3.H.12 of the report, the organophosphate investigation team is not qualified to assess the effects of exposure to pesticides.