§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure improved social costing of all major road building projects, including an estimate of the likely adverse effects on health of resulting levels of lead and other toxic elements in the atmosphere; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SpeedResearch is in hand in the Department aimed at quantifying the social values people place on the beneficial and adverse effects of new highways. Relevant results will be published and guidance given on improved methods of evaluation as they become available. Advice from the Department of Health and Social Security on the possible adverse effects of particular concentrations of lead and other atmospheric pollutants would be taken into account in quantifying social values. Research so far has not indicated that there is any risk to human health from present levels of emissions from motor vehicles.