Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the risk of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals to people in (a) Yeovil constituency, (b) Somerset and (c) England.

The risks to human health and the environment from individual chemicals are assessed and regulated at a national level by the relevant authorities, including the Health and Safety Executive, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Food Standards Agency, and the Environment Agency. These controls apply across England, including in the Yeovil constituency and Somerset. Therefore, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has not undertaken specific risk assessments of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) at a constituency or county level.

UKHSA keeps the evidence on the potential health impacts of environmental pollution, including EDCs, under review. The Government also works with international partners, including the World Health Organization and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, to ensure approaches reflect current scientific understanding.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs states that the concern for EDCs, which have been linked to numerous human health and wildlife impacts, is a complex scientific issue. The national policy approach to risk assessment and management makes use of the best available evidence to maintain high standards of protection. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs commissions research and engages with the scientific community, experts within our regulatory bodies, and non-government organisations to build an understanding of EDCs.