§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what monitoring his Department carries out, or is aware of, of aluminium levels in water supplies and the diet; and if these relate to acid deposition.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneI have been asked to reply.
Statutory water undertakers carry out periodic monitoring of aluminium concentrations which are naturally present in their water supplies. More frequent monitoring is carried out when aluminium is used as part of the treatment process. The concentration in nearly all supplies in England is well within the limit laid down in the EC directive on the quality of water intended for human consumption. Aluminium concentrations in the raw water are related to the nature of the catchment area, including the acidity of the soil water, which mainly depends on the geology — though other factors, including acid deposition, also affect it. Responsibility for questions relating to diet lies with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.