Mobile Phones (Hansard, 8 June 2000)

§ Dr. Gibson
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the Stewart Committee on Mobile Phones and Health. [122311]

§ Yvette Cooper
The Stewart report published on 11 May includes over 30 wide-ranging recommendations. We issued our initial response on the same day and copies are available in the Library. We will implement the research in a comprehensive programme costing several million pounds. We plan to launch this programme by September. Further discussions have been held with the Stewart Group about the provision of information to the public about the use of mobile phone technology. Other recommendations are being taken forward by the appropriate Government Departments and agencies.
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§ Mr. Pollard
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned on the health risks of(a) mobile telephones and (b) telecommunication masts; and if he will make a statement. [122354]

§ Yvette Cooper
The Department has funded two research projects on possible effects of radio frequency fields similar to those emitted by mobile phones and base stations. (i) a behavioural study of rodents and (ii) a human study involving psychological tests under simulated mobile phone use. The Department is also providing support for the World Health Organisation International Electromagnetic Fields Project and a multinational study of brain cancer and mobile phone use.
Preparations are currently under way to set up a substantial programme of research funded jointly by Government and industry. Details will now be taken forward in the light of the recommendations of the independent group on mobile phones and health (Stewart Report). This report was published on 11 May and copies have been placed in the Library.

§ Mr. Gordon Prentice
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned into the possible links between proximity to mobile phone transmitter masts and the development of cancers; and if he will make a statement. [124095]

§ Yvette Cooper
The Department has not commissioned any research into links between proximity to transmitter masts and cancers. The Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (the Stewart group) was set up to investigate the broader public health implications of mobile phone technologies. The group's report was published on 11 May and copies are in the Library. The report includes a number of recommendations for research which are being taken forward by Government in a comprehensive programme of research costing several millions of pounds. It is planned to launch this programme by September.