§ Sir Gerrard NealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he received the report of the Lowermoor incident health advisory group of their assessment of reports on the health effects on people resident in the Lowermoor distribution area at the time of the pollution incident in 1987 which have become available since the group reported in July 1989; when it will be published; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DorrellI am pleased to say that the Lowermoor incident health advisory group has completed its report following careful assessment and evaluation of all available information. It has consulted extremely widely on all the matters before it. Its report is being published today, and I am placing copies in the Library.
The group has concluded that the research reported to it does not provide convincing evidence that harmful accumulation of aluminium has occurred, nor that there is a greater prevalence of organic abnormalities in the exposed population. It does not expect lasting physical harm from the toxicity of the contaminated water itself. Nevertheless, it acknowledges that the incident was unique and although it has no reason to predict any late consequences, it cannot exclude them categorically.
112WThe group states that it has no doubt that the accident itself and subsequent events have led to real mental and physical suffering in the community. Such a situation is well recognised following major accidents. The district health authority is arranging the continuation of counselling services for at least two years.
The advisory group has recommended that preliminary work which suggests that some residents are "sensitised" to aluminium, so that they experience increased absorption of aluminium and a worsening of symptoms, be repeated. Agreement in principle has been reached for the Medical Research Council to commission and manage this research, and for the Department of Health to provide funding. The Medical Research Council will provide the mechanism for the development of protocols, and provision of peer review for this research.
The Government welcome the group's advice, and I have asked the health authority to act on those recommendations for following up the health of local people that the group have made.
I am grateful to the chairman, Professor Dame Barbara Clayton, and the members of her group for the thorough way in which they have produced such an authoritative report. The Department, the health authority, and the people of the Camelford area have been well served by the group.