HC Deb 24 May 1989 vol 153 cc594-5W
64. Mr. Hayward

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of lead in the atmosphere is caused by lead in petrol.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

On 1 January 1986 the permitted lead content of petrol was reduced from 0.4g per litre to 0.15g per litre. The Warren Spring laboratory has been monitoring the effects of the reduction on the concentration of lead in the atmosphere for the Department. Its estimate, based on this work, is that currently 75 per cent. of the lead in the air is derived from lead in petrol.