Written question asked by Lord Tyler (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 15 June 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 28 June 2000. It was answered by Yvette Cooper (Labour) on Wednesday, 28 June 2000 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, since 1990, what work on pesticides has been carried out by the Medical Toxicology Unit (Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital Trust) and the NPIS (London) under contract to agrochemical companies; what equipment, facilities and staff funded by his Department have been used for this purpose; what agreements with his Department have been made to cover this activity; if he will publish details of those contracts; and if he will make a statement. - (Holding answer 20 June 2000).

Answer: Mr. Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Health since 1990, what work on pesticides has been carried out by the Medical Toxicology Unit (Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital Trust) and the NPIS (London) under contract to agrochemical companies; what equipment, facilities and staff funded by his Department have been used for this purpose; what agreements with his Department have been made to cover this activity; if he will publish details of those contracts; and if he will make a statement. [127021] Yvette Cooper: [holding answer 20 June 2000]: The laboratory of the Medical Toxicology Unit at Guy's and St. Thomas' National Health Service Hospital Trust has never carried out any work under contract on pesticides. Any work in relation to pesticides has been part of the trust's NHS function in providing services for diagnosing poisoning. Funding by the United Kingdom Departments of Health for National Poison Information Service services covers only the inquiry services, contribution to the maintenance and development of a poisons database (TOXBASE), and outreach to, and training of, health professionals in the use of the service. This funding is not provided for the purposes of other associated activities at the Medical Toxicology Unit (Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital NHS Trust) or at any other of the Centres.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 127021; 352 c511-2W
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Contracts Pesticides Poisons Research Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust National Poisons Information Service
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk