§ Mr. Kinnockasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will sponsor a study into the effect upon schoolchildren of the inhalation of heavy metal in the atmosphere including that resulting from lead in petrol.
§ Sir Keith JosephWith regard to the effects of the inhalation of lead, I would refer the hon Member to the answer given on 24 February by my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for health and personal social services to a question by the right hon. Member for Brent, East (Mr. Freeson). The work of Drs. Yule and Lansdowne being supported by the Medical Research Council concerns blood lead from whatever source, including inhalation; equally, I understand that the research being supported by the Department of the Environment concerns body lead from whatever source including inhalation.
The Council, which operates under a Royal Charter and receives a grant-in-aid from the science budget of the Department, is always prepared to consider for funding, under its grant schemes, proposals for the support of specific studies within its field of responsibility.
For heavy metals other than lead I am not aware of any evidence to show that, under normal circumstances, the inhalation of these metals from the atmosphere has a detrimental effect on schoolchildren.