§ Dr. StoateTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the National Radiological Protection Board has recommended as a safe level of radiation from mobile telecommunications masts. [104994]
§ Yvette CooperThe National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) provides exposure guidelines that cover the spectrum of radiowave emissions including the microwave frequencies transmitted by mobile telephone base stations. The specific levels depend upon the frequencies used by the operator. The latest advice on exposure guidelines in the United Kingdom can be found in the "Documents of the NRPB," Vol. 10, No. 2 (1999), entitled "Advice on the 1998 ICNIRP Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time-varying Electric, Magnetic and Electromagnetic Fields (up to 300GHz)." Copies have been placed in the Library.
Measurements made by NRPB have shown radiowave strengths at ground level and in regions normally accessible to the public are very many times below UK exposure guidelines. The guideline levels can only be exceeded within a few metres directly in front and at the height of the antennas. NRPB is at present preparing a report on the base station measurements it has made. This should be published within the next few months.
§ Dr. StoateTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next plans to discuss levels of radiation from mobile telephone masts with the National Radiological Protection Board. [104995]
§ Yvette CooperThe National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) keeps the issue of exposure from mobile telephone masts under continuous review. In response to the guidelines of the International Commission on 333W Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) the NRPB published "Advice on the 1998 ICNIRP Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time Varying Electric, Magnetic and Electromagnetic Fields (up to 300GHz)" in its series "Documents of the NRPB," Vol. 10, No. 2 (1999). Copies have been placed in the Library.
In April 1999, my right hon. Friend the former Minister for Public Health asked the National Radiological Protection Board to set up an Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones to assess the current scientific evidence. This Group, chaired by Sir William Stewart, FRS FRSE, is due to report in spring 2000. Government will be considering its findings together with the advice of the NRPB.
§ Dr. StoateTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review with the National Radiological Protection Board their guidelines on safe levels of radiation from mobile telephone masts taking account of recent changes in the guidelines on such levels in Australia. [104993]
§ Yvette CooperThe National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) continues to keep under review its guidelines for the UK for restricting exposures to electric and magnetic fields. It does this based on its own review of the scientific information available taking into account advice from its Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation, chaired by Sir Richard Doll. It will also take into account any recommendations made by the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, chaired by Sir William Stewart, that is expected to report in spring 2000. That group is considering all available evidence, both national and international.
NRPB last gave formal advice on exposure guidelines in 1999 in the "Documents of NRPB", Vol 10, No 2 entitled "Advice on the 1998 ICNIRP Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time-varying Electric, Magnetic and Electromagnetic Fields (up to 300GHz)." Copies have been placed in the Library. This was in response to the revised guidelines issued by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) in 1998.