§ Mr. BlizzardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what regulations govern the installation of mobile phone transmission equipment as it relates to human health. [140464]
§ Ms Beverley HughesThere are no specific regulations governing the installation of mobile phone transmission equipment as it relates to health. However, telecommunications operators have a duty under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 and the Management of the Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to ensure that so far as is reasonably practicable, their work activities—which would include the installation and operation of their equipment—do not expose people to risks to their health and safety.
The Government's statutory adviser, the National Radiological Protection Board, has published guidelines on limiting exposure to electromagnetic radiation. All mobile phone transmission equipment should meet these guidelines. Following publication of the Stewart report on mobile phones and health in May 2000, the Government accepted that, as a precautionary measure, the emissions from mobile phone base stations should meet the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines for public exposure as expressed in the EU Council Recommendation of 12 July 1999 on the limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields (OHz to 300GHz). Most base stations already meet the ICNIRP guidelines and all new base stations will do so.