§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 1997,Official Report, columns 349–50, if his Department classified those dwellings with water supplies with a lead concentration exceeding 50.ųg/litre, on the basis of information up to 360W 1995, as being unfit for human habitation; what assessment he has made of the public health implications of such lead concentrations; and if he will make a statement. [36199]
§ Angela EagleThe current housing fitness standard requires a dwelling to have an adequate piped supply of wholesome water but does not specify concentrations of contaminants that may render a dwelling unfit for human habitation.
At sustained concentrations exceeding 50 ųg/l, drinking water is likely to be the major source of lead intake. But is unlikely to contribute significantly to those exceptionally high levels of intake of lead which result in clinical lead poisoning. I understand that the lower levels of exposure which are experienced are associated, in epidemiological studies, with small subclinical changes, including decrements in neuropsychological development in children and increased blood pressure in adults.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 1997,Official Report, columns 349–50, how and where he proposes to test drinking water for compliance with the proposed EC Drinking Water Directive; when he expects this Directive will come into effect; if standards will apply when water enters a property; what will be the impact of the directive on his Department's assessment of the future fitness of dwellings; and if he will make a statement. [36201]
§ Angela EagleThe proposal for a revised Drinking Water Directive is at the stage of the Council having agreed a Common Position, and is being considered by the European Parliament. After their Second Reading, it will come back to Council for consideration of any amendments. We hope that the Directive will be adopted this autumn. Under the present draft, Member States will have 5 years from adoption to meet the interim standard for lead of 25 ųg/1 and 15 years from adoption to meet the standard of 10 ųg/1.
The present draft of the Directive requires sampling at the tap, but provides that Member States will generally have fulfilled their obligations if it can be established that non-compliance with a parametric value is due to the domestic distribution system. This is defined as the part of the supply system that is not the responsibility of the water supplier. The draft Directive requires treatment measures to reduce the risk of non-compliance due to the domestic distribution system, and that the property owner is advised of possible remedial action that they could take.
It is too early to judge the impact of the Directive on the assessment of the future fitness of dwellings. We are currently reviewing the housing fitness standard. A consultation paper issued on 10 February 1998 invited comments on a number of proposals and options for change. A copy of the paper has been placed in the Library.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 1997,Official Report, columns 349–50, if he will ensure that future English House Condition Surveys indicate that figures for unfitness from the survey do not take account of lead in water; and if he will make a statement. [36200]
361W
§ Angela EagleSurveyors do not take samples to establish the quality of water in a property in the English House Condition Survey and its figures for unfitness do not take account of lead in water. The main Report of the 1996 Survey will be published within the next two months and will make this clear.