§ 2.54 p.m.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy 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 how often the premises of the lead merchants H. J. Enthoven have been inspected in the past year, and whether examinations were made of the dust, and investigations for lead poisoning undertaken.
THE EARL OF GOWRIEMy Lords, since the beginning of November, 1971, the premises of H. J. Enthoven and Sons Limited have been visited by Her Majesty's Inspectors of Factories on 12 occasions. On one of these occasions, in July of this year, the Industrial Hygiene Unit of the Factory Inspectorate made lead-in-air estimations and analysed samples of dust deposits inside the buildings. The works medical officer keeps the Factory Inspectorate informed of the results of the blood lead analysis. Recently the Medical Services Division of the Department of Employment carried out an examination of 52 workers.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, will the noble Earl answer me two questions? Is it not a fact that this factory has been there for many years? Therefore, why did the inspections start only last year? If these inspections have been made over the year why was it that the very high lead content of the dust was found only recently and considered so dangerous that the children in the vicinity have had to be removed to other parts of the country?
THE EARL OF GOWRIEMy Lords, it is not true to say that the inspections started only in November of last year. Inspections are a matter of form. In reply to the second of the noble Baroness's questions, the Inspectorate was concerned with looking into the safety and health level of workers inside the factory, but co-ordinating inquiries have been put in train in regard to pollution outside the factory.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, did not the noble Earl read the report of the Royal Society on the Birmingham survey in which they announced last week that in individual cases of dust there was as much as 3 per cent. of lead and that this was a hazard to children's health, and particularly that there was a risk of brain damage? What 1253 does he intend to do about that report in respect of the rest of the country?
THE EARL OF GOWRIEMy Lords, I am aware of an article, I believe from American sources, about the possibility of behavioural change as a result of lead poisoning. But I should like the noble Baroness and the House to be aware that it is not the opinion of the Government. It is our medical advice that the raised level of lead in the blood, which is under discussion, is not medically regarded as poisonous.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, if it is not poisonous, can the noble Earl say why the children and the families near this factory have been moved to other parts of the country?
THE EARL OF GOWRIEMy Lords, I would point out that the firm concerned, which is the subject of the noble Baroness's Question, has voluntarily closed its Riverside works until filters have been fitted between the main extractor system and the stack. I am sure that the noble Baroness will welcome this.
§ LORD DAVIES OF LEEKMy Lords, is the noble Earl aware that some of us would not like his statement (if my interpretation of it is accurate) that lead is not poisonous to go from this House? Those of us who live in an area where lead was used for dipping wares in the pottery industry know that an Act has been in operation for years to prevent poisoning from lead, and that a glass of milk was given to each of the potters every day. Did the Minister say that lead was not injurious?
§ LORD DAVIES OF LEEKGood!
THE EARL OF GOWRIEI was trying to make a distinction between our natural concern as to raised levels of lead in the blood and lead poisoning.
§ LORD DAVIES OF LEEKMy Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Earl for that explanation, otherwise I may have misinterpreted him in a public meeting or in discourse.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, while the noble Earl is trying to answer these very difficult questions, could he 1254 perhaps answer the question put by my noble friend Lady Summerskill, about why, if the present levels of lead dust and lead consumption, are not regarded as being seriously damaging, children have been removed from the neighbourhood? I find there a certain inconsistency.
THE EARL OF GOWRIEMy Lords, if I had said that, I appreciate that an inconsistency could be interpreted by the noble Lord. I was trying to make a distinction between our natural and serious concern as to raised levels of lead in the blood and the pathological condition known as lead poisoning.
§ LORD PARGITERMy Lords, having regard to the fact that inspections started before last year, can the noble Lord say how many inspections of this factory have taken place in the last ten years?
THE EARL OF GOWRIEMy Lords, that is another question, and if the noble Lord cares to put it down I will answer it.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, may I ask another short supplementary question? Is the noble Earl aware that I was not speaking of American sources; I was speaking of our own Royal Society meeting in London last week. I was quoting from a British source.
THE EARL OF GOWRIEMy Lords, I said in my earlier answers that we were concerned about this matter. We do not know how valid any particular conclusion is or any particular research, but we will examine these results and we are watching developments most closely.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLThat is a little better.
§ LORD WYNNE-JONESMy Lords, is the noble Earl aware that there is growing concern in scientific circles about the danger of poisoning from a number of heavy metals, including lead? Is his Department going to take action as a matter of urgency to see that the levels of pollution are kept down?
THE EARL OF GOWRIEMy Lords, I think the noble Lord will be aware that the Department of Employment, and indeed all Departments of the Government, are actively looking at the recommendations of the Robens Committee on Safety and Health at Work at this time.