§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the survey by the Medical Research Council which indicates that intelligence quotient deficits have been found in London schoolchildren with normal blood lead levels; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George Young[pursuant to his reply, 7 April, c. 236]: The Medical Research Council has funded—at the suggestion of the DHSS working party on lead in the 217W environment—a pilot study to assess the feasibility of testing whether there is any association between exposure to lead at a level of less than 35 micrograms in 100 millilitres of blood and attainment in schoolchildren. The pilot study has now been completed and the results have already been submitted for publication.
The study identified a number of methodological problems—including difficulties in statistical analysis—and raised questions, such as the importance of social class. The MRC is already funding further research into this topic.