§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department will investigate and seek to ascertain the extent to which ingestion of asbestos fibres has exacerbated, or been responsible for, cancer in digestive organs.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeBoth our Department's medical staff and its independent expert advisory committees continue to review the results of research undertaken here or abroad into the medical effects of asbestos fibres. So far there is no convincing evidence that asbestos fibres ingested from food, water or other drinks exacerbate or cause cancer of the digestive organs. Among the current research is a number of projects supported by the Medical 55W Research Council, which is the main Government funded body supporting research into asbestos linked illness or death, from their grant-in-aid under the Science Vote of the Department of Education and Science.