HL Deb 27 June 1967 vol 284 cc80-1
LORD DOUGLAS OF BARLOCH

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have given advice, and, if so, what advice, to water undertakers as to the necessity of correcting water supplies which are liable to dissolve lead.]

LORD SORENSEN

My Lords, no general advice has been given, since the normal remedy, treatment of the water with alkali, is simple and well known.

LORD DOUGLAS OF BARLOCH

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that a recent survey carried out by the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Liverpool showed that in county boroughs with a population of 20 million, 95 per cent. had water supplies which were liable to dissolve lead. Does not this require attention?

LORD SORENSEN

My Lords, I was not aware of that. The information I have certainly does not cover that point; though there is much else that I can read to the noble Lord if he so desires. I understand that by-laws can be made by statutory water undertakers where the problem is acute. I may add that the use of lead pipes for water is declining and in many parts of the country this practice does not now exist. But I will certainly bring the noble Lord's concern to the attention of the Minister.

LORD DOUGLAS OF BARLOCH

My Lords, on the latter part of my noble friend's reply, may I ask whether he is aware that probably three-quarters of the houses in this country have lead pipes for water and that the introduction of copper and synthetic tubes has been quite recent?

LORD SORENSEN

My Lords, I was not unaware of that information, but I thank the noble Lord for giving it me.

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that normally lead is not soluble in water?

LORD SORENSEN

I am afraid that I did not hear the noble Lord's question.

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

It was not very important.