HC Deb 25 October 1988 vol 139 c132W
Mr. Nicholas Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether, following the "Study of Health of United Kingdom Participants in the United Kingdom Atmospheric Nuclear Weapons Tests", published on 28 January, further studies of the possible effects on the risks of developing multiple myeloma and leukaemia have been made; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Sainsbury

The Government have accepted the recommendations made by the authors of the National Radiological Protection Board report to conduct a follow-up study covering a period of 10 years from the end of 1983 (the end point of the published study) to the end of 1993. This further study will again cover the incidence of leukaemia (excluding chronic lymphatic) and multiple myeloma. The NRPB is therefore continuing to accumulate data on mortality and cancer incidence in both the study and control populations. If it is justified by an examination of this data, the Government have agreed to consider embarking on a full validation and analysis of the extra data leading to an interim report at an earlier date. No such interim study is, however under way at this moment.

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