§ Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much his Department has spent on research into the effects of particulate levels in air on health for each of the last five years;
(2) how much his Department has spent on research into the effects of sulphur dioxide levels in air on health for each of the last five years;
(3) how much his Department has spent on research into the effects of ozone levels in air on health for each of the last five years;
(4) how much has been spent by his Department on research into the effects of lead levels in air on health for each of the last five years.
§ Mr. DorrellThe main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research in the United Kingdom is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from the Department of Education and Science. I understand that research into air pollutants is included in the MRC's current research programme.
499WI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 14 November 1990 at columns 162–63. The Department of Health has set up an advisory group on the medical aspects of air pollution episodes. This group was established to consider what advice, if any, should be given by central Government about personal protection measures when levels of air pollution are high. An executive summary of its first report on ozone was published on 7 May and copies are available in the Library. Copies of the full report, published by HMSO, will be available later in the summer.
The group is now considering the winter pollutants with particular regard to sulphur dioxide and plans to publish the report of its findings early next year. The advisory group will be considering particulates along with sulphur dioxide and the winter pollutants.
The levels of lead in air in the United Kingdom, except for one or two specific industrial sites, are well within levels set by the EC and have reduced considerably over recent years due to Government action to reduce lead in petrol.