§ Dr. David Clarkasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his statement on 27 January, Official Report, column 189, concerning radon levels in houses, for what period he expects the two stated recommended action levels to remain in force before review; whether he expects a review of these action levels to be initiated on publication of reviews during 1987 by (a) the International Commission on Radiological 414W Protection, (b) the Committee on the Biological Effects of Ionising Radiation and (c) any other body; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveAs I indicated on 27 January, the Government have followed the formal advice of the National Radiological Protection Board and the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment in setting the levels of radon in dwellings above which precautionary action is advisable. These levels will be kept under review in the light of any further evidence that emerges about the effects of radon on health.
§ Dr. David Clarkasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his statement on 27 January, Official Report, column 189, concerning radon levels in houses, what discussions have taken place on the feasibility of a study of the health effects of such exposure to radon; how soon he expects a decision to be reached on whether to undertake such a study and about its duration.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe recommendations for action on radon in dwellings are based in part on epidemiological studies of the health effects of exposure on uranium miners. Both the National Radiological Protection Board and the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment consider that there is a need for a further study of the health effects on persons exposed to radon gas in the home. The feasibility of such a study and the way in which it might be set up are currently being investigated.
§ Dr. David Clarkasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to arrange for further sampling of radon levels in dwellings other than in Devon and Cornwall, and other than at the request of members of the public; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveAs I indicated on 27 January, it is intended that the systematic survey of radon levels in houses should be restricted to Devon and Cornwall for the time being as most of the houses with the highest levels are likely to be located there. However, the need for systematic surveys in other parts of the country will be kept under review in the light of the results obtained from the free measurement service to be provided by the NRPB.
§ Mr. Warrenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what measure the Government will take to ascertain whether existing homes are experiencing radon gas concentrations greater than the action level of 400 becquerels per cubic metre; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI refer my hon. Friend to my statement of 27 January.
§ Mr. Warrenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he will introduce to enable the financing and inspection of home improvements needed to protect people whose homes are experiencing Radon gas levels greater than 400 becquerels per cubic metre.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI refer my hon. Friend to my statement of 27 January. No decisions can be made about the implementation of remedial measures until the work in hand on establishing the extent of the problem and the most effective ways of dealing with it has been completed.
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for the Environment pursuant to his statement on 27 January, 415W Official Report, columns 189–90, concerning radon levels in houses, what number of houses in Somerset is to be included in the further survey announced; whether any parts of Somerset are areas where a measurement service will be provided at no cost to those concerned; what arrangements have been made for distribution in Somerset of his Department's leaflet; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Waldegrave[pursuant to his reply, 9 February 1987, c. 115]: As I indicated on 27 January, it is intended that the systematic survey of radon levels in houses should be restricted to Devon and Cornwall for the time being. However, free measurements will be provided on request, through the National Radiological Protection Board, to people who live in areas of Somerset and other parts of the country where radon concentrations might be at or above
1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 Thames 1,810 2,120 2,345 2,486 2,695 Southern 1,300 1,327 1,400 1,574 1,668 North West 1,350 1,288 1,385 2,241 2,202 Severn Trent 2,401 2,681 3,354 4,372 4,500 Wessex 844 790 966 1,125 993 South West 1,055 1,140 1,600 1,685 1,718 Anglian 1,095 1,077 1,288 1,557 1,707 Northumbrian 509 544 613 654 722 Yorkshire 1,136 1,020 1,165 1,536 2,006 Welsh n/a n/a n/a 1,418 1,681 n/a = not available. No breakdown of these figures is held centrally but details are available from the water authorities and, in some cases, are contained in the authorities' annual reports.
§ Mr. Pikeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment at what levels it is possible to detect the toxicity of Decapol in (a) drinking water and (b) untreated water.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe toxic constituents in the Decapol range of products are acrylamides. The most toxic of these can be detected at 0.2 mg per litre in both drinking water and untreated water.