§ 47. Mr. LivseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has on alleged links between instances of leukaemia clusters and nuclear power stations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanTwo studies have been published which looked at leukaemia and cancer rates in the vicinity of nuclear power stations (as well as other nuclear installations) in England and Wales. The first study' was published in 1987 by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. The second study2 was published earlier this year. Copies of this material are in the Library.
531WBoth studies have been referred to the independent committee on medical aspects of radiation in the environment (COMARE), which provided a preliminary assessment of this work in its third report to Government' published last month, a copy of which is in the Library. For a summary of COMARE's findings, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Sir M. McNair-Wilson) on 21 June 1989 at column 151–52.
1 'Cancer incidence and mortality in the vicinity of nuclear installations. England and Wales, 1959–80'. Office Population Censuses and Surveys. Studies on Medical and Population Subjects No. 51. (HMSO 1987).2 'Geographical variation in mortality from leukaemia and other cancers in England and Wales in relation to proximity to nuclear installations, 1969–78'. British Journal of Cancer 59 476–485.3 'Report on the incidence of Childhood Cancer in the West Berkshire and North Hampshire area, in which are situated the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston and the Royal Ordnance Factory, Burghfield'. (HMSO 1989).