HC Deb 26 May 1954 vol 528 cc388-90
21. Mr. Teeling

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that there is evidence to suggest that diesel oil fumes may be a cause of cancer, and that research into this problem is being conducted by the Medical Research Council; and if he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission to defer the substitution of all their trolley buses by diesel buses until such time as the Medical Research Council have made their report.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I am not prepared to interfere in the Commission's commercial decisions except for reasons of over-riding national importance. So far as I am aware, no such reasons exist in this case.

Mr. Teeling

Does my right hon. Friend realise that the present study that is being made may well take some time? It includes other Departments. The Ministry of Fuel and Power considers it is a very serious question and is looking into it. Does he realise how difficult it would be if in a year or two's time it were found that there is some cause for this complaint and he had finally to scrap the new organisation in regard to transport which he is likely to have on his hands by then?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The number of vehicles involved is so small in relation to the total traffic in London that to hold up a commercial decision of this kind would be quite unjustifiable.

Mr. H. Nicholls

Would my right hon. Friend bear in mind that it would be unwise from unfounded fears to prevent a very proper development? Research which has taken place in Birmingham has shown that there is less contamination coming from diesel fumes than from ordinary petrol fumes.

Mr. K. Robinson

In order to allay public anxiety which is all too easily aroused, will the right hon. Gentleman make it quite clear that so far there is no evidence whatever of any association between diesel fumes and lung cancer?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

All fumes are bad for health, but I have no reason to think that diesel fumes are any worse than any other fumes.

Mr. Nabarro

Has the attention of my right hon. Friend been directed to the recent statement in Bristol by the radiologist of Weston-super-Mare Hospital, which contains these significant words: A review of the steady increase in cancer of the lung over the past 30 years showed that it almost exactly followed the curve of the change-over of public transport from petrol engines to diesel engines. In view of that statement, will my night hon. Friend take the advice of the Medical Research Council before an irrevocable decision is made in this matter?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I think it would be a pity if a single quotation from a single person—however eminent—were to be taken as conclusive.

Mr. Teeling

I beg to give notice to raise this matter again on the Adjournment as we cannot discuss it by means of Question and answer.