§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will carry out surveys of the incidence of cancer in children in villages around Windscale; and whether he will make a comparison of the local statistics with national figures.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe National Radiological Protection Board, in conjunction with a member of the Medical Research Council external scientific staff, is already undertaking a study of cancer, including leukaemia, in the neighbourhood of nuclear plants in England. In addition, OPCS is conducting an analysis of cancer incidence and mortality comparing national figures with those in local authority areas in the vicinity of nuclear sites operating before 1955.
We have now asked a distinguished medical scientist, Sir Douglas Black, to consider the evidence concerning the alleged cluster of cancer cases in Seascale and to advise us as quickly as possible whether further research is needed and to make recommendations as to what form, if any, the research should take.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has carried out surveys on the presence of plutonium and other radioactive elements in household dust in villages round Windscale.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe National Radiologiacal Protection Board at present monitors the level of 455W radioactivity in the air, which, it considers, provides more relevant information. We will ask the board to consider again whether there would be any worthwhile purpose to be served by investigating levels of household dust in addition to its present work.