§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has received regarding the genetic effects of radiation exposure.
§ Mr. FreemanThe National Radiological Protection Board is under a statutory obligation to provide advice to Government and others on the effects of radiation. The board's advice on genetic effects of radiation exposure is contained in NRPB publication R226, "Health Effects Models Developed from the 1988 UNSCEAR Report", a copy of which will be placed in the Library shortly. I am advised that there is some evidence that radiation causes genetic defects in animals; however, epidemiological studies of groups of people exposed to large doses of radiation have produced no conclusive evidence of any genetic damage that has been passed on to their children.