§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will conduct an inquiry into the health hazards associated with the pollution of drinking water in the Worcester area on Friday 15 April; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvillePeople were advised at the time not to drink the tap water. This was a sensible precaution until an analysis could be made to determine what pollutants were present. Those subsequently detected in the drinking water were present at such low levels that no short-term or long-term health effects were anticipated. We understand that some cases of gastric upset and nausea have been reported by some local general practitioners, but it is not possible to say with certainty whether these were caused by the polluted water.