§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what progress is being made by the National Radiological Protection Board with the survey of former radiation workers, arising from the recommendations of the Flowers report;
(2) if he is satisfied with the progress of the National Radiological Protection Board with the pilot study of workers of British Nuclear Fuels Limited involved in radiation hazards; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if steps are being taken to maintain a permanent central register of all workers involved with radioactive substances;
(4) if steps are being taken to follow up the health records of ex-radiation workers to ensure that epidemiological information vital to the long-term assessment of radiation risks is not lost nor allowed to become irrecoverable.
§ Mr. MoyleThe White Paper "Nuclear Power and the Environment", Cmnd. 6820, responding to the Sixth Report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution—the Flowers Report—announced—Annex A, paragraph 9—that the National Radiological Protection Board had set up a central register of radiation workers. I understand that negotiations have been completed by the Board for the inclusion on a voluntary basis of the dose records of all workers engaged in radiation work for the main nuclear employers and that steady progress is being made in adding these to the register.
215WThe Board has also discussed with the main nuclear employers the feasibility of a study of ex-radiation workers but agreed that a final decision on the inclusion of their records should depend on the results of the pilot study currently being carried out by British Nuclear Fuels Limited. I am informed that the results of this study will be available within the next few months, which is within the time scale originally anticipated.
Employers of radiation workers are required to retain health registers and radiation dose records in respect of radiation workers for a period of 30 years after the last entry.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what evaluation is made by his Deparatment of the findings of studies carried out in the United States, or elsewhere, concerning the health of workers involved with radiation hazards.
§ Mr. MoyleNo evaluation has been made by my Department. The subject is being carefully reviewed by the National Radiological Protection Board and, as indicated in my reply to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Irving) on 11th April—[Vol. 947, c.379]—the protection against ionizing radiations committee of the Medical Research Council has been asked to assess the relevant publications and prepare a report for my right hon. Friend on the scientific aspects of the studies.