§ Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services following publication of the report "Nitrates in Water", if he will make a statement as to health implications of reducing the nitrate/litre concentrates in public water from 80 mg/litre to 50 mg/litre; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe health implications of nitrate in drinking water are set out in a letter from the Government's Chief Medical Officer to local medical officers on 27 November 1985; this letter is reproduced as appendix B to the report, "Nitrates in Water", a copy of which is available in the Library.
I am advised that there is no reason to consider that nitrate levels averaging 80 mg/litre over three months with a maximum of 100 mg/litre adversely affect health in the United Kingdom. There is therefore no health requirement for reducing the nitrate concentration in drinking water from 80 mg/litre to 50 mg/litre.