Submariners (Hansard, 15 May 1989)

§ Mr. Ashley
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Ministry has sought or has been sent any evidence indicating that the health of sailors in nuclear submarines is significantly different from that of sailors in non-nuclear submarines.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
No. There is no evidence to suggest any difference in the health of sailors in nuclear submarines compared with those in non-nuclear submarines.

§ Mr. Ashley
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information has been given to submarine sailors regarding the objectives of the study of their health and the findings so far; and if he is proposing to make available to sailors all the information obtained by the study.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
No advance information to sailors about the Medical Research Council study, was either given or considered necessary. The study was commissioned by the MOD purely as a scientific study to 69W examine all the possible medical effects of the machine-manufactured submarine environment, and was not specifically aimed at any particular aspect. The study is still in progress and it is too early to comment on any possible findings. On completion of the study report, non-classified information will be available in medical libraries.

§ Mr. Ashley
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information regarding their health has been provided to individual sailors for them to discuss with their general practitioners.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
While individual sailors are in the service, advice from the Medical Officer/General Practitioner is always available. When they leave the service, there is a standard procedure for the release of copies of the medical documents to the nominated civilian GP for the puposes of treatment. The radiation dose records of those serving submariners designated as radiation workers can be released to the individuals on request, and are forwarded as a matter of course when they leave the service, in accordance with the "Ionising Radiation Regulations 1985".

§ Mr. Ashley
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the study of the health of submariner sailors began; when it is expected to end; what interim reports have there been; and what are the objectives of the study.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
The study into mortality and morbidity amongst submariners began in 1987, and will be completed in 1990. No interim reports have been issued because the first year was taken up with identifying the survey population. We are now looking at the service health records of those who have retired from the Royal Navy. The Institute of Naval Medicine is monitoring the progress of the study, but the design and conduct of the study remain independent, and in the hands of the Medical Research Council. The purpose of the study is to seek further confirmation, by an independent body, that service in submarines is not detrimental to the health of naval personnel. The study was not initiated in response to any perceived or anticipated medical problem.

§ Mr. Ashley
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the design of the study of the health of submarine sailors is such that it would show whether or not the health of sailors in nuclear submarines is significantly different from that of sailors in non-nuclear submarines.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
The aim of the study, which will include personnel from both types of submarine, is to study the effect on people of working for long periods in an artificially-controlled environment. Comparison will be made with other sailors and other similar age groups in the civilian population.