§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will examine the paper by Rooney, Beral et al in theBritish Medical Journal, volume 307, pages 1391–97, on prostatic cancer causation, in so far as it applies to the population of Wales; and if he will make a statement on cancer studies undertaken by his Department.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesOfficials have examined the paper, which suggests a statistical association between the238W incidence of prostatic cancer and possible occupational exposure to certain radionuclides that tend to be associated with the working environment of heavy water reactors. Exposure to these radionuclides was found to be uncommon and did not affect the overall health of the Atomic Energy Authority work force. Members of the public are unlikely to be significantly exposed to these radionuclides, and so the findings of this study do not appear to be relevant to the population of Wales. If there are any implications of the study for the Welsh work force this would be a matter for the Health and Safety Executive.
Within the last six years two studies on cancer incidence in Wales have been published by the Welsh Office. These are:
A report of an investigation into the incidence of Leukaemia in the North Wales coastal strip" by Emeritus Professor H. Campbell, FRCP; andInvestigation of Incidence of Cancer around Wylfa and Trawsfynydd Nuclear Installations 1984 to 1986".Copies of both reports are available in the Library of the House.