HC Deb 25 June 2002 vol 387 cc855-6W
Mr. Prisk

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the one-off compliance costs to the NHS in real terms are of replacing the Ionising Radiation (Protection of Persons Undergoing Medical Examination or Treatment) Regulations 1988, with the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000. [63202]

Ms Blears

No data have been collected on the one-off compliance cost to the national health service in real terms of replacing the Ionising Radiation (Protection of Persons Undergoing Medical Examination or Treatment) Regulations 1988, with the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000. However, the new regulations formalised many features of good practice believed largely to be already present in the NHS.

Mr. Prisk

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the annual compliance cost was to the NHS in real terms, of the Ionising Radiation (Protection of Persons Undergoing Medical Examination or Treatment) Regulations 1988. [63201]

Ms Blears

The annual cost to the national health service in real terms of compliance with the Ionising Radiation (Protection of Persons Undergoing Medical Examination or Treatment) Regulations 1988 has not been estimated. The additional cost, however, compared with the overall costs of providing imaging and radiotherapy services is negligible. The regulations laid down basic measures for the radiation protection of persons undergoing medical exposures. These regulations were replaced by the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000.

Mr. Prisk

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many lives he estimates were saved as a result of the introduction of Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000; and if he will make a statement. [63204]

Ms Blears

It is not possible to estimate how many lives were saved as a result of the introduction of the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000, which came fully into force 1 January 2001. These regulations implement the European Community Directive 97/43/Euratom that was introduced following reappraisal of the risks of exposure to ionising radiation. The regulations revoke and replace the Ionising Radiation (Protection of Persons Undergoing Medical Examination of Treatment 1988 (POPUMET) which implemented an earlier EC Directive. However, the new Regulations formalised many features of good practice believed largely to be already present in the national health service under POPUMET.

Mr. Prisk

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the annual compliance cost is to the NHS of the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000. [63203]

Ms Blears

The annual compliance cost to the national health service of the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000 has not been estimated. The regulations that came fully into force on 1 January implemented European Community Directive 97/43/Euratom. The regulations replaced earlier legislation in force since 1988 that laid down basic measures for the radiation protection of persons undergoing medical exposures.