Mercury (Hansard, 8 June 1995)

§ Mr. Hinchliffe
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence she has evaluated on the migration of mercury from amalgam fillings to human organs; and if she will make a statement on the impact of increased levels of mercury fillings on recorded levels of mercury in human tissue. [26675]
306W

§ Mr. Malone
The Committee on Toxicity advised in 1986 that the use of dental amalgam is free from the risk of systemic toxicity and that only a few cases of hypersensitivity occur. The subsequent research findings, and recent evaluations by several authoritative national and international expert committees are consistent with that advice. The Department of Health will continue to assess and evaluate all research in this area.

§ Mr. Hinchliffe
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of specific funding is available for research into toxicity levels of mercury in humans from potential sources with particular reference to(a) mercury in the food chain, (b) mercury in dental amalgam and (c) environmental mercury. [26676]

§ Mr. Malone
Research has been carried out in a number of countries, including the United Kingdom, about the health effects of mercury. Research to determine the long term biological safety of all types of materials used in primary dental care has been identified as a priority for the national health service primary dental care research and development programme; £175,000 has been allocated to the programme for the 1995–96 financial year and the first call for proposals will be made shortly. The NHS regions also fund research and development, including a project into the safety aspects of dental amalgam during pregnancy which is funded by South and West regional health authority at a cost of £45,000.
The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The Department of Health's policy research programme also commissions research to meet identified policy needs. There is no specific budget for research into toxicity from mercury. Decisions on whether to support research proposals are made on the basis of competing priorities and the scientific merit of the proposal.