§ Mr. Gwilym JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the study that has been carried out by the steering committee of the small area health statistics unit in relation to eye malformations in Torfaen.
§ Mr. GristFollowing receipt of detailed proposals for the conduct of such a study the views of the steering committee were invited. Their advice has recently been received. After careful consideration the steering committee concluded that this matter should not be subject to further examination by the unit. In reaching this view the steering committee took account of intrinsic difficulties in obtaining reliable data and on the absence of any evidence associating eye malformations with incinerator emissions. In the light of that and of the overall results of the valuable and substantial researches that Professor Laurence has carried out in the past for the Department, on congenital malformations in Torfaen, we have taken the view that investment in such a further study is not justified at this time.
However, the Department routinely monitor a variety of data on human health problems including the incidence of congenital malformations. If this monitoring suggests that there are grounds for proceeding with a study at any stage that we shall ensure that appropriate measures are put in hand to determine what further investigations might be useful.