§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give financial assistance to the programme being organised by Brent council for the screening for blood lead concentrations of all schoolchildren in Brent.
§ Mr. WaldegraveNo. As I explained in my letter of 1 June to the hon. Member, any local authority is free to carry out a mass screening programme for lead if it feels that the local situation justifies it; but this is a matter for the authority to decide in the light of its own priorities and the resources available within its own budget.