§ Mrs. Knightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that the report of the working party studying lead pollution around Gravelly Hill, Birmingham is correct in its conclusions that there is no cause for alarm, or whether he accepts that Dr. Robert Stephens' submission that 20 per cent. of inner city children in Birmingham are impaired by lead poisoning is accurate.
§ Mr. MoyleMy right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of the Environment stated in the foreword to the published report of the working party on which my Department was represented, that the studies have not shown any cause for special concern. As recommended by the working party, further research is continuing in Birmingham to establish the reasons why 15 out of 440 pre-school children sampled had blood lead concentrations above the amount which is usually accepted as the upper limit of the normal range for children. These children appear to be in good health generally but their progress is being monitored. I am aware of no evidence to substantiate any conclusions other than those arrived at by the working party.