Written question asked by David Drew (Labour) on Tuesday, 13 July 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 21 July 2004. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Wednesday, 21 July 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for which Pesticides Safety Directorate and Health and Safety Executive approved pesticides and biocides there are no assays for biological samples in human poisoning cases held by the NHS.

Answer: Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for which Pesticides Safety Directorate and Health and Safety Executive approved pesticides and biocides there are no assays for biological samples in human poisoning cases held by the NHS. [184451] Miss Melanie Johnson: The Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) does hold analysis methods for many of the active ingredients contained in the products licensed by them as pesticides. There are currently no biocides approved by the Health and Safety Executive under the biocidal products directive. Pesticide assays for biological samples are not offered routinely by most national health service laboratories. Assays for paraquat are available from a selected group of NHS laboratories. In exceptional circumstances, NHS laboratories are able to test for other compounds.

Secondary information