§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what evidence he has of a correlation connection between nitrate levels in drinking water and stomach cancer;
(2) what evidence is available to him of the risks to health of excessive levels of nitrate in drinking water.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeRecent epidemiological studies carried out in the United Kingdom based on both nitrate concentrations in water and occupational exposure to fertilisers containing nitrate have not shown an association between exposure to nitrate and stomach cancer. Also, none of the studies provides convincing evidence that nitrate ingestion contributes to cancers of other sites.
West Midlands Children in Care *Staff of Maintained/Controlled Community Homes (Local Authorities) As at 31 March As at 30 September 1983 1984 1983 Hereford and Worcester 855 807 227.2 Shropshire 630 632 89.2 Staffordshire 1,343 1,306 N/A Warwickshire 585 N/A 91.7 Birmingham 2,873 N/A 857.6 Coventry 738 678 182.4 Dudley 355 332 49.7 Sandwell 253 211 99.3 Solihull 63 N/A 51.0 Walsall 534 477 70.0 Wolverhampton 635 589 N/A Regional Total 8,864 N/A N/A N/A: Not yet available * Expressed in whole-time equivalents