Written question asked by James Paice (Conservative) on Tuesday, 9 December 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 11 December 2008. It was answered by Huw Irranca-Davies (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 December 2008 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Pesticides: Health Hazards

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if his Department will publish (a) the papers from the Study of Health in Agricultural Work by Dr. Andrew Povey et al., of the University of Manchester, (b) the Survey of Health and Pesticide Exposure by Dr. Tony Fletcher of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and (c) the case-control study of neuropsychological and psychiatric functioning in sheep farmers exposed to OP pesticide by Dr. Sarah Mackenzie Ross of University College, London, commissioned by his Department.

Answer: The reports from Dr. Povey and Dr. Mackenzie Ross will be published when the current peer review has been completed.The consolidated epidemiological and clinical reports from Dr. Fletcher's study have been passed to the Medical and Scientific Panel of the Veterinary Products Committee for their independent view of the findings. Once the Medical and Scientific Panel's views are received the consolidated report will be published.The epidemiological report from Dr. Fletcher's study was published on the DEFRA website in June 2005 and can be found at:"http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document =VM0299_260_TRP.doc."

Secondary information