§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment to report on the statistics relating to clusters of leukaemia around Dounreay; how the report will be published; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MacKayIt is for the committee, which is independent, to decide when and how it should publish its conclusions.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what further studies on the incidence of leukaemia amongst young people in the west of Scotland and links with radioactive emissions he has received in the past six months; what action is being taken on them; when he expects to publish the raw material and an analysis of the studies; and if he will make a statement;
(2) pursuant to the answers of 24 February, Official Report, columns 454–5, when he expects to publish the results of the systematic analysis of leukaemia statistics.
§ Mr. John MacKayNo studies have been received. An exercise has been under way for some time now to18W validate statistics relating to the incidence of leukaemia in the 0 to 24 year age group in Scotland as recommended by the independent advisory group chaired by Sir Douglas Black which examined the incidence of cancer in west Cumbria. That work has not yet been completed, but I am expecting the final results shortly. When they are received, they will be published.