§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has about measures taken to reduce concentrations of lead in dust and air (a) in the central and greater London area and (b) in the west Midlands region, during the last three years.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI am not aware of any such measures which are specific to these two areas. The Government decided in 1981 that the lead content of petrol should be reduced by over 60 per cent. by the end of this year. This will produce a rapid and substantial reduction in concentrations of lead in air everywhere. The Health and Safety Executive has recently prepared revised guidance for lead works, including more stringent limits on emissions. This will also help to reduce local concentrations. The relationship between concentrations in air and in dust is the subject of continuing research, but reductions in air concentrations are likely to be followed by reductions in dust concentrations.