HC Deb 11 February 1998 vol 306 cc278-9W
Mr. Chaytor

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to commission further research on(a) the health impact of low level radiation and (b) the health effects of internal radiation. [28467]

Ms Jowell

The Department of Health maintains a Radiation Protection Research Programme which funds several projects concerned with the possible health effects from environmental radiation exposure and from exposure to internal radiation. These projects are carried out at various research institutes and universities in the United Kingdom. The National Radiological Protection Board also carries out work in these areas.

Mr. Chaytor

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the impact of low level radiation on genome stability. [28466]

Ms Jowell

The Department has not commissioned research into the effects of radiation on genetic stability. The Medical Research Council fund work in this field. This is undertaken at their Radiation and Genome Stability Unit at Harwell. The results of this work are published in the scientific press and current information has been considered by the National Radiological Protection Board and made available to the independent advisory Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment.