Written question asked by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Conservative) on Monday, 18 May 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 2 June 2026. It was answered by Baroness Sherlock (Labour) on Thursday, 28 May 2026 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Blood: Lead

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Health and Safety Executive regarding its proposals to lower the permitted level of lead in the blood from 60 micrograms per decilitre to 15 micrograms per decilitre, and the implications for heritage crafts such as stained glass window painting and repairing, in particular for women and older people working in those crafts.

Answer: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is currently consulting on proposed changes to the Control of Lead at Work Regulations (CLAW) 2002 to enable the impact of these proposed levels in the working environment to be fully assessed. HSE have also been engaging with the heritage sector about potential changes to CLAW since early 2025 and are continuing to engage with a range of businesses to inform this work, including representatives of the heritage sector, prior to making any final recommendations.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL218
Session: 2026-27
Subjects: Blood Women Employment Health and Safety Executive Lead Older people Crafts
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk