§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received on the setting up of a Royal Commission on the 583W relationship between overhead power lines and the incidence of cancer and leukaemia; and if he will make a statement. [155052]
§ Mr. HainThe only representation which has been received on the setting up of a Royal Commission was the recent correspondence forwarded by the hon. Member for the Vale of York from one of her constituents, Professor Henshaw.
The hon. Lady will know that the Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation published its report: "Extremely low frequency Electromagnetic Fields and the Risk of Cancer" on 6 March 2001. (Documents of the NRPB Vol 12, No 1, 2001). Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.
The independent Advisory Group that is chaired by Sir Richard Doll reports directly to the Board of the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB). Its terms of reference are:
To review work on the biological effects of non-ionising radiation relevant to human health and to advise on research priorities".The remit covers static and extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields (including those at power frequencies) and radio-frequency fields and radiation such as infrared, visible and ultraviolet.
The members of the Advisory Group are appointed by the NRPB on the basis of their proven research expertise. They are also independent of Government and commercial interests. Membership reflects the work of the Advisory Group at any particular time.
There is every benefit in maintaining a group that is independent and comprises a number of particularly eminent scientists. I could not foresee the need for establishing a Royal Commission on this issue.