HL Deb 02 August 1982 vol 434 cc518-9

2.45 p.m.

The Earl of Kinnoull

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 will set up an inquiry into lead pollution and poisoning dangers at present suffered by the community in relation to water supplies, food, industrial practices and motor vehicle fumes.

The Earl of Avon

My Lords, this is an area where there have been a number of reviews and inquiries. For instance, in 1979 the Working Party on Lead in Petrol reported on the costs and feasibility of making reductions in lead emissions from cars; in 1980, the Department of Health and Social Security working party chaired by Professor Lawther completed a review of the sources and effects on health of lead in the environment; and currently, the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee, which will report shortly, have in hand a review of metals—including lead—in canned foods, Her Majesty's Alkali and Clean Air Inspectorate are reviewing their requirements for the best practicable means of controlling emissions from leadworks and the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution are looking at aspects of lead in the environment as part of their current study.

The Earl of Kinnoull

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that helpful reply confirming the detailed studies made on the subject. As regards lead in petrol, can my noble friend till us how many other member states of the EEC have followed Her Majesty's Government in their example of reducing lead content by the end of 1985? Secondly, is my noble friend aware of the progress in the design of the exhaust gas filter which apparently dramatically minimises lead emission? Finally, what is my noble friend's best estimate of the lead in our environment due to exhaust fumes?

The Earl of Avon

My Lords, last year we announced the reduction in the maximum permitted level of lead in UK petrol from 0.4 to 0.15 grammes per litre. This is coming into force by the end of 1985. This will enable us to achieve the air quality standard of 2 micrograms per cubic metre which we adopted in response to Lawther and which, I am pleased to say, we have managed to persuade our Community partners to agree to in a directive; and this will be met almost everywhere. My noble friend asked about the filters. They are an option which has been seriously considered, but further action does not seem necessary at present in the light of the most recent evidence. My noble friend's final supplementary question about the amount of lead in the atmosphere is difficult to answer; but I believe that at the moment the actual level could be declining.

Lord Underhill

My Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether any arrangements are to be made with the Transport and Road Research Laboratory to further the investigation into the exhaust filter to which the noble Earl, Lord Kinnoull, referred and also to promote a similar inquiry among motor manufacturers—because the important thing is that if the exhaust filter works then there will be no adjustment to car engines. This is an important point.

The Earl of Avon

My Lords, although the Department of the Environment has a ministerial responsibility for lead, the Department of Transport has control over the level of lead in petrol, motor vehicle technical standards and the technical aspects of reducing lead in petrol. All this is going ahead on a broad basis.

The Earl of Kinnoull

My Lords, can my noble friend say what progress has been made so far as water supplies are concerned to identify the areas in which the public water supply is served by lead piping or plumbing? What advice would my noble friend or his department give to users who may be affected? Has my noble friend checked whether the Palace of Westminster has lead plumbing; and does he feel that this has led to any deterioration in Members' intelligence?

The Earl of Avon

My Lords, our first priority is for the water undertakings to press on with their programmes by identifying sources of water which can dissolve lead from plumbing and, where practicable, to treat it chemically so that plumbing solvency is much reduced. On this last day of our present Sitting, I am sure that all noble Lords will go home refreshed by our own water supply.

Lord Leatherland

My Lords, since the noble Earl answered this Question in terms of micrograms and cubic metres, can he tell us—being good Englishmen—what this means in ounces and cubic yards?

The Earl of Avon

My Lords, I can recall the noble Lord's Question on 29th March 1982 when he asked me something similar. My reply then was that I am sure the noble Lord is quite able to translate it himself.