§ Mr. Gorstasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish findings of all those reports which have been commissioned by his Department into the health hazards to local residents due to atmospheric pollution 288W resulting from the close proximity of major public highways.
§ Mr. Denis HowellResponsibility for the health of the population rests in general with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services, but my Department is directly concerned with a study of the health effects of atmospheric pollution near major roads which is being carried out in Birmingham.
The first report of the Gravelly Hill Joint Working Party on Lead Pollution, which I set up in March 1974, was published last year; and an interim report on progress since that time is now very near completion. Other research has also been commissioned by other Government Departments and non-Government bodies. It is not within my right hon. Friend's discretion to publish these reports, but he encourages their publication wherever possible.