§ Baroness Hornsby-Smithasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many general hospitals and mental hospitals have lead pipes over 100 years old conducting the water supply.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Lord Trefgarne)Records of the type of materials used for the water distribution system in hospitals are not held centrally. The department has sent all health authorities a copy of a joint Department of the Environment and Welsh Office circular to local authorities ("Lead in the Environment", Circular 22/82, Department of the Environment: Circular 31/82, Welsh Office: September 1982), which advises on the identification and treatment of environmental lead problems such as lead in plumbing.