§ Ms AthertonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the Government have for the radon-free measurement programme; and if he will make a statement. [10468]
§ Angela EagleThe Government are concerned by the threat posed to health by high concentrations of radon gas in homes and we therefore propose to complete the two-year programme, initiated by the previous Government, the second phase of which began in February this year. From early autumn, invitations for a free radon measurement will be sent to the remaining homes in England—nearly 178,000—which have a greater than 5 per cent. chance of being above the recommended radon action level and which have not already received an invitation. These invitations will ensure that every household in the most radon-affected parts of the country will have been offered a free radon measurement.
When we have the data generated by this programme, we will be able to consider, with local authorities, the best way to deal with this problem on a local basis.