Written question asked by Lord Tyler (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 25 July 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 28 July 2000. It was answered by Michael Meacher (Labour) on Friday, 28 July 2000 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many people have been poisoned by pesticides in each year since 1995, indicating the pesticide concerned in each case. - Inc fact that comprehensive information on the number of people who are poisoned by pesticides each year is not available and will arrange for a copy of able to be placed in the Library. (Table in Library Dep 00/1328).

Answer: Mr. Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people have been poisoned by pesticides in each year since 1995, indicating the pesticide concerned in each case. [133298] Mr. Meacher: Comprehensive information on the number of people who are poisoned by pesticides each year is not available. Some information is available from the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) Pesticide Incidents Appraisal Panel, which considers all incidents investigated by HSE or local authorities where the use of a pesticide is alleged to have caused ill health. Summary statistics of such incidents are published annually in HSE's Pesticide Incidents Report. I have asked officials to compile a table listing, for each year since 1995-96, the pesticide active ingredients involved in such incidents, the number of people concerned, and whether or not the Panel assessed the case as having a confirmed or likely link with pesticide exposure. I will arrange for a copy of this table to be placed in the Libraries as soon as possible.

Secondary information