Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Conservative). It was answered on Monday, 16 July 2007.

Barometers

Question: My Lords, I am amazed that the Minister describes it as a proportionate response, given that new mercury barometers consume some 78 pounds of mercury, that the Government still intend that mercury can be used in dentistry for filling purposes and that, according to an Answer from the Minister, 0.8 tonnes of mercury go into the atmosphere as a result of cremations. Surely the Minister must recognise that this is a disproportionate response, which will destroy businesses making mercury barometers? Would he not like to reconsider the Government’s position?

Answer: No, my Lords, certainly not. Given the way in which the noble Lord asked that question, one would assume that nothing is being done about the two examples that he gave. That is not the case. For example, there are restrictions and proposals to reduce the amount of mercury in dental fillings, and there are proposals to restrict mercury emissions from new crematoria and to restrict by 50 per cent mercury emissions from existing crematoria. In the past three decades, UK emissions of mercury have declined from 63 tonnes to 7.6 tonnes, a reduction of 89 per cent, which is consistent with both the European and the global effort to reduce the use of mercury where there are viable alternatives.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 694 c1-2
Session: 2006-07
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Related items: Mercury: Dental Fillings
Thursday, 26 July 2007
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Health hazards EU law Measuring instruments Weather Mercury
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk