§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research he has recently commissioned on the possible link between overhead power lines and cancer. [137199]
§ Mrs. LiddellThe Department of Health is currently funding both epidemiological and laboratory studies on power lines and cancer. The Department of Health also contributes to the World Health Organisation International Electromagnetic Fields Project and has supported the United Kingdom Childhood Cancer Study. The electricity industry is supporting high-quality, independent research.
126WThe Department of Trade and Industry has not recently commissioned any research into the possible link between overhead power lines and cancer as it is believed that there is sufficient on-going research sponsored by Government and by other agencies.
The Government also rely on the independent advice from the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) for guidance on all forms of hazard to health from radiation, including electromagnetic fields. That advice to date is that, while the possibility of an association cannot be dismissed, there is insufficient evidence of any adverse health effect from the fields from power supplies to which the general public may be exposed.