HC Deb 21 February 1955 vol 537 cc101-3W
Dr. Stross

51, 52 and 53. asked the Minister of Health (1) how many cases of lead poisoning among children have been notified in the past five years; how many proved fatal, and how many evidenced signs of lead encephalopathy; and whether he will state the materials or articles which infants and children may use or come into contact with, which cause poisoning;

Mr. Iain Macleod

The following is the information:

(2) what is the in-patient cost, per patient per week, in the Cardiff Royal Infirmary, the St. David's Hospital, Cardiff, the Llandough Hospital, and the East Glamorgan Hospital, respectively.

Mr. Iain Macleod

The following is the information:

(2) whether he is satisfied that the public appreciates the danger of using paint containing lead on any woodwork which infants and young children may handle or come into contact with; and what action he proposes to take to protect infants and children from contracting poisoning by this metal;

(3) whether he has noted that recently two children have died in the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital from lead poisoning; and what evidence he has as to how these children aged, respectively,

four years and one year ten months, came to be exposed to a lead hazard.

Miss Homsby-Smith

Such cases are not notifiable; there were eleven deaths among children ascribed to lead poisoning in the five years ending September, 1954. Of the seven deaths from 1952 to 1954, none was reported as showing signs of lead encephalopathy; information is not available for the other deaths. Serious danger arises only when in rare cases a child develops a peculiar appetite for chewing articles containing lead which results in cumulative poisoning. Lead paint has been the most frequent reported cause, apart from one recent outbreak due to the use of old battery cases as fuel on domestic fires.

One of the two children who died in the Manchester Hospital was stated to have chewed furniture and toys and the source of poisoning was paint; information on the second case could not be obtained. The Department has issued notes to a number of widely read journals suggesting that their readers should be warned of the danger, particularly when repainting furniture, or walls and my right hon. Friend is glad of this further opportunity of making known this occasional hazard.