§ 46. Mr. Haleasked the Prime Minister whether he will set up a permanent research committee into the genetic hazards involved in the use of nuclear force and thermo-nuclear explosions.
§ The Prime MinisterThe genetic and, for that matter, the somatic hazards of all forms of ionizing radiation are already kept under constant review by the Medical Research Council.
§ Mr. HaleBut is it not a fact that the Medical Research Council has no power to initiate inquiries on its own but power merely to receive reports? In view of the extreme importance of the matter, would it not be as well to have it under constant review by a qualified body which is able to demand, and compel, the supply of essential information?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that the hon. Gentleman has, perhaps, a little under-estimated the amount of work which the Council does. It is supporting much research on the genetic effects of ionizing radiation in a number of its own research units as well as in other centres throughout the country.
§ 51. Mr. Bevanasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the disquiet resulting from the effects of man-made radioactivity, he will now request the 1026 Medical Research Council to undertake a thorough investigation into the incidence of bone cancer and blood leukaemia in people living at different altitudes, and make the report available to Parliament.
§ The Prime MinisterIn principle, such an investigation as the right hon. Gentleman suggests would be a useful contribution towards establishing the relationship, if any, between the variations in radiation from the natural environment and the incidence of bone cancer and leukaemia; and experts are carrying on this type of study in other parts of the world. However, I am advised that bone cancer and leukaemia are so rare, and the range of different altitudes at which people live in the United Kingdom is so small, that it could not be effectively carried out in this country.
§ Mr. BevanNow that we have the assurance that the idea of the threshold has no scientific validity, would it not be useful if we obtained information about the extent to which altitude affects bone cancer and leukaemia? If the Prime Minister thinks that altitude varies so little in Great Britain as to be not really important, will he furnish the House with the results of investigations elsewhere?
§ The Prime MinisterI was merely pointing out that, if one wants to make a scientific investigation of the varying effects of living at different heights, this country, which is, on the whole, a flat country, without great differences in the heights at which people live, will not provide the best places for this kind of research. Obviously, in places like Denver, where people live at a great altitude—the whole city is—a much more useful contribution can be made. I will certainly consider whether we can make available the results of these studies of altitude which have been made in places where the research is more easily conducted.