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Local Member Carol Martin has voiced her support for the inquiry by the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs into chemical use by the Agriculture Protection Board (APB) in Derby between 1970 and 1985. She said last week that the committee would investigate from where the chemicals (suspected to contain 245T - Agent Orange) were sourced and the terms and conditions under which they were supplied to or acquired by the APB. It would also look into the purchasing arrangements, if materials sourced from overseas were supplied to and/or included in material provided by chemical companies to the APB. |
The committee's third job is to find out what accounting systems the APB used to track the quantities and location of chemicals. Mrs Martin said the case had dragged on for years and there had already been three other inquiries into different aspects of chemical use by the APB. "However, because this committee has a broad range of political interests represented in its membership, I am encouraged that the outcome of this latest inquiry will provide answers that our community needs. |
"Having lived in Derby for 20 years, I personally know most of the workers, who have been affected by chronic illness, and I want answers to the questions they have raised," Mrs Martin said. However, long-time activist on behalf of himself and other workers Carl Drysdale is not impressed (see Letters to the editor in this edition). |