§ Mr. Rookerasked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the findings of the working party studying the blood lead levels of children in city day nurseries in Birmingham, he will consider bringing forward to January 1980 the further reduction in the lead content of petrol due in January 1981.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThese findings will be considered in the wider review which is now taking place of the health effects of lead from all sources. But I do not at present see any justification for bringing forward to January next year the further reduction prescribed in the limit on the lead content of petrol.
Benefit Latest date for which figures are available Number of beneficiaries receiving less than standard rate (3) as a percentage of total number of beneficiaries (1) (2) (3) (4) (a) Maternity allowance March 1977 4,100 5.1 (b)Unemployment benefit May 1978 25,000* 4.7* (c)Sickness benefit June 1977 10,200 2.3 (d)Retirement pensions (excluding age related widow's retirement pension) November 1978 434,000 5.2 (e)Widows' pensions (excluding agerelated) November 1978 14,500 6.5 (f)Widowed mother's allowance November 1978 21,000 17.3 (g)All age related widows' benefits November 1978 12,500 11.0 * An estimate which includes benefit paid at less than the standard rate because of the payment of an overlapping benefit.