§ Mr. FaberTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence his Department has submitted to the five year study currently being undertaken by the World Health Organisation into the possible adverse health effects of electromagnetic fields; and if he will publish it. [46661]
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§ Ms JowellThe Department has submitted to the World Health Organisation a brief description of several ongoing projects on possible health effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF), which the Department is funding under its radiation protection research programme. Although none of these EMF projects has yet reached publication stage, the individual research institutes are encouraged to publish their results in the open literature.
§ Mr. FaberTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last obtained advice from(a) the National Radiological Protection Board and (b) the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment concerning public health effects of electromagnetic fields from telecommunications masts. [46662]
§ Ms JowellThe National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) published advice on electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and cancer in 1992 and in a supplementary report in 1994. The NRPB's advisory group on non-ionising radiation is currently reviewing recent scientific literature and is expected to publish its findings shortly. Guidance on exposure to electromagnetic fields, including the low power microwave signals emitted by mobile telephones and base station antennae, was published in 1993. Further information on EMFs from telecommunications masts has been published in the form of leaflets and web site information. The last advice from the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment on EMFs was on 2 August 1996 concerning the results of an epidemiological study about high powered transmitter masts in the United Kingdom. Copies of all literature mentioned are available in the Library.
§ Mr. FaberTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions concerning proposals to limit the siting of telecommunications masts to a distance greater than 500 metres from hospitals and nursing homes. [46659]
§ Ms JowellDecisions about siting telecommunications masts are the responsibility of local authorities. There are no proposals to limit the siting of masts to a distance of greater than 500 metres from hospitals and nursing homes. The Department has not discussed this issue with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.
§ Mr. FaberTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what contribution his Department has made to the work of the European Commission Expert Group on mobile telephony and human health. [46658]
§ Ms JowellThe Department has made no direct contribution to the European Commission Expert Group. The group consisted of internationally renowned European scientists. The chairman is, however, the head of the non-ionising radiation department at the National Radiological Protection Board which is funded by the Department. One other member is also from the United Kingdom. The recommendations of the group have yet to be formally advanced by the Commission.