HC Deb 01 November 1993 vol 231 cc68-9W
Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out the criteria established for the procedures, remit and timing of Health and Safety Executive studies of the incidence of leukaemia and other radiation effects in relation to British Nuclear Fuels plc's plant at Sellafield.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

As the findings of the 1990 report by Professor Gardner suggested a possible occupational cause for the raised incidence of leukaemia and non-Hodgkins lymphoma in young people near the Sellafield plant, the Health and Safety Executive decided to focus its investigation on the occupational histories of fathers employed at the plant. The purpose of the investigation, which was based on records held by British Nuclear Fuels plc, was to see if the Health and Safety Executive needed to take any specific action to further restrict workplace exposures. At the same time HSE agreed to fund a number of other relevant studies jointly with the Department of Health.

A written protocol specifying the criteria and working methods of the investigation was drawn up and agreed with the workforce and management of British Nuclear Fuels plc and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. It was cleared with the medical ethical authorities in December 1990 and work began in January 1991. It was recognised that a full epidemiological study would take some years to complete. Therefore, two short studies based on the case fathers identified by Professor Gardner, were carried out to whether any obvious common factors emerged; neither study pointed to a need for action. Originally, it was envisaged that the main study could be completed in April 1992. However, despite giving the work a high priority, the study took longer to complete because of the volume and complexity of the records that had to be examined and interpreted. This resulted in the report not being finalised until the end of September 1993. The findings of the report suggest that no further preventive action is required to protect the occupational health and safety of the Sellafield work force, over and above the measures which are already in place.