§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if there are any European Community regulations which would prevent the United Kingdom reducing lead levels in household paint.
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§ Mr. Alexander FletcherI have been asked to reply. I am advised that it would be contrary to EC directive 77/728/EEC to ban the supply of household paint containing more than a prescribed amount of lead. The directive provides for the packaging and labelling of paint on safety grounds and forbids member states from prohibiting the supply of paints that satisfy these requirements.