§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will make a statement on the Health and Safety Commission's consultative document on additional guidance on radiation protection;
(2) what revised estimates of risk from radiation the Health and Safety Commission took into account when issuing its recent consultative document on radiation protection.
§ Mr. NichollsThe consultative document published on 5 February by the Health and Safety Commission sets out draft guidance for employers on measures to maintain levels of protection for employees against ionising radiations in the light of recent revisions of risk estimates. The Health and Safety Commission took into account revised international expert thinking on the risks from radiation, arising out of further information about the survivors of the Japanese atomic bombings, and subsequent interim advice from the National Radiological Protection Board.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will make a statement on workplace levels of radiation;
(2) what proposals the Health and Safety Commission has to recommend a reduction in workplace levels of radiation.
§ Mr. NichollsLevels of exposure to ionising radiations at the workplace have decreased since the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985 (IRR 85) came into force.
The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has recently issued a consultative document containing proposals for interim action pending receipt of revised international recommendations. The HSC's working group on ionising radiations will in due course consider the revised recommendations and make proposals for further action.