§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet commissioned from the 378W Medical Research Council the study on the effects of lead in the atmosphere on the measured intelligence of children, to which he referred in his statement of 11 May 1981, Official Report, c. 483; what are the terms of reference for the study; and what additional funds have been made available to carry it out.
§ Mr. Patrick Jenkin[pursuant to his reply, 4 June 1981, c.412]: The Department has been in discussion with the Medical Research Council, which is already supporting work on the possible effects of lead on the intelligence of children and is giving active consideration to proposals for further studies. The council would welcome opportunities to evaluate other scientifically worthwhile work on this topic and this will be covered in discussions with my Department and the Department of the Environment. There are no formal terms of reference and the cost of any new proposals has yet to be determined.