Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Countess of Mar (Crossbench). It was answered on Monday, 28 April 2008.

Health: Organophosphates and Carbamates

Question: My Lords, will the Minister acknowledge that science demonstrates that there is a sub-group of about 10 per cent of the population that is extremely susceptible to organophosphates exposure? Does he accept that even the Health and Safety Executive acknowledges that inhalation is a problem with people susceptible to exposure to organophosphates? How do you stop breathing when you are working with your sheep after they have been dipped?

Answer: My Lords, I fully understand where the noble Countess is coming from, but she is inviting me to make a scientific judgment, which I am not qualified to do. All the information I have is that the science is not there. However, there are projects still to be completed, which I detailed in my letter to the noble Countess and to the noble Lord, Lord Tyler, on 20 February. I regret the time that this is taking, but that is one problem of the review of literature that the Committee on Toxicity needs to address, which will not be completed until towards the end of 2009. Some other research projects should be completed by this April and two more by this September—and, of course, they will be fully reported on.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 701 c4
Session: 2007-08
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Related items: Health: Organophosphates
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Health hazards Iraq-Kuwait conflict Farmers Pesticides Sheep Gulf War syndrome Organophosphates Sheep dipping Veterans Carbamates
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk