§ 3.13 p.m.
§ LORD O'HAGANMy 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 what new plans they have to reduce pollution from lead.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT (LORD SANDFORD)My Lords, the Government have already announced plans for the progressive reduction of the lead content of petrol, for the reduction of the permissible amounts of lead in baby 1406 foods, and for the reduction of the lead content of writing implements and other household articles. All these measures will reduce significantly the quantity of lead to which people are exposed.
Research into many aspects of lead pollution is continuing: there are at present some fifty Government or Government-sponsored projects under way, including surveys of airborne lead at roadside sites in five major cities. The Government are also concerned about the possible dangers of lead contamination in the vicinity of lead works, and have encourage the relevant authorities to investigate the situation around works for which they are responsible. As your Lordships know, my right honourable friend is examining this problem urgently and will be announcing such further measures as may be necessary as soon as possible.
§ LORD O'HAGANMy Lords, may I thank the Minister for that voluminous reply, and may I redirect his attention to the original Question, which asks for the new plans that the Government have to reduce pollution? Could he, for example, illustrate the activity of the Government by telling us what is going to be done for the future protection of children from lead?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, the particular regulation that affects children is the regulation enforcing the reduction of permissible amounts of lead in baby foods.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, as the noble Earl who answered the Question about lead yesterday appeared to take the matter less seriously than the noble Lord who has answered to-day, may I ask the noble Lord, Lord Sandford, always to answer Questions about lead? It would be much more helpful.
§ LORD O'HAGANMy Lords, could the noble Lord explain why, of the nine surveys of lead pollution announced by the former Minister for the Environment earlier this year, none was connected with children and young people; and whether he really feels that this small token advance in the case of lead in baby foods is enough to protect children in youth from processes which can cause permanent brain damage?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, it may seem a small matter but the fact is that the hazard to human beings from ingested food is much greater in the case of infants; and if you take steps to regulate and reduce the maximum perm[...] content of lead in baby foods you re acting in an important sector.
§ LORD DOUGLAS OF BARLOCHMy Lords, is the noble Lord asserting that the only way in which infants imbibe lead is through baby foods? Do they not breathe?
§ LORD SANDFORDYes, my Lords, I believe that they do, and some of the research which I indicated will help us to take action if necessary on airborne lead. Young children also suck pencils, and the regulations which the Home Secretary intends to introduce to deal with the lead content of pencils will also help.
§ LORD WYNNE-JONESMy Lords, can the noble Lord tell us whether the figure to which the Government are going to reduce the lead level in petrol is a final figure, or if they are proposing to go still further? Can the noble Lord also say what further work the Government are doing to see what is the limit to which the lead in petrol can be reduced without introducing further sources of pollution?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, that is one of the items into which further research is being done. The next step proposed is a reduction to 0.45 grams per litre by 1975.
§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, can the Minister say whether there has been a complete prohibition on the use of lead paint on children's toys.
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, this is one of the matters covered by regulations to be introduced by my right honourable friend the Home Secretary.
§ LORD O'HAGANMy Lords, may I ask one final supplementary question? Has the Minister seen the research from Birmingham University which shows that—
THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (EARL JELLICOE)My Lords, I am sorry to interrupt the noble Lord but we do have a rule against reading supplementary questions.
§ LORD O'HAGANMy Lords, may I ask that supplementary question unread, 1408 as I did the first time? May I ask whether the noble Lord has seen the research by Dr. Stevens, of Birmingham University, which showed that young children could ingest a dangerous amount of lead from household dust alone; and may I ask whether the Government are taking steps to find out whether this sort of dangerous ingestion is stopped?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for drawing my attention to that matter. I shall certainly study it and ensure that it is drawn to the attention of my Department, if they are not already aware of it.