HC Deb 01 April 1957 vol 568 cc22-3
19. Mrs. Castle

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Lord President of the Council, who are the members of the Medical Research Council's Committee on Protection against Ionising Radiation.

Mr. Vosper

The names of the members of the Medical Research Council's advisory committees are published in their Annual Reports to Parliament. The last report was published in June, 1956 (Cmd. 9787).

Mrs. Castle

In view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman told me last week that this Committee on Protection against Ionising Radiation has, in fact, superseded the work of the Committee on Nuclear Hazards, which reported last June, and since he has assured us that it has met at frequent intervals, and he is, in fact, really hiding behind this Committee, would he publish its Report so that we can have these assurances which he keeps giving us put over the names of scientists, in public and in print?

Mr. Vosper

I will see whether the names of the members of the Committee can be published.

27. Dr. Summerskill

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he will publish the opinion of the Committee on Protection against Ionising Radiation, as to the medical aspects of the policy of restraint agreed to at Bermuda in regard to future hydrogen bomb tests.

Mr. Vosper

This is one of the bodies which advise the Medical Research Council. The Council's views on the hazards from test explosions were contained in its special Committee's Report of June, 1956 (Command 9780).

Dr. Summerskill

Is the Minister aware that Professor Haddow, a distinguished member of that Committee, said publicly last week—it has been reported on the radio—that all Governments are underestimating the risks and that if the position were examined now that Report might be rendered obsolete?

Mr. Vosper

I think that the right hon. Lady had better await the debate which is taking place today. The Report did, of course, take into account the continuation of tests at the present level.

Mr. S. Silverman

If the Government are so completely satisfied that these tests can be made without adding significantly to the danger to the world, why do they incur all the additional expense of carrying them out at Christmas Island instead of in the Thames?

Mr. Vosper

That point can be more properly raised in the forthcoming debate.