§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what research has been carried out into the effects on the health of the public of the Windscale fire in 1957 and the radiation leaks connected with the fire; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe report of the independent advisory group 1*, established in 1983 to investigate the possible increase incidence of cancer in west Cumbria, was based on evidence of estimated radiation doses to the public from all sources over the period 1951 to 1982. This evidence included the effects of the Windscale fire in 1957. A subsequent report 2*, which reassessed this evidence was produced by the independent committee on medical aspects of radiation in the environment in 1986 and concluded that the substance and essential conclusions of the independent advisory group remained unchanged. Copies of both reports are in the Library.
1* "Investigation into the Possible Increased Incidence of Cancer in West Cumbria" (HMSO 1984).2* "The implications of the new data on releases from Sellafield in the 1950s for the conclusions of the Report on the Investigation of the Possible Increased Incidence of Cancer in West Cumbria" (HMSO 1986).