§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations his Department has received concerning the health implications of working and living in the vicinity of a nuclear power station. [75793]
§ Ms BlearsSince the mid 1980s the Department has received many representations about the possible health effects of nuclear installations in the United Kingdom.
The committee on medical aspects of radiation in the environment (COMARE) was established in November 1985 in response to the final recommendation of the report of the independent advisory group chaired by Sir 502W Douglas Black. Its remit is to look at the possible health effects of all source of radiation whether natural or man made, including radioactive materials discharged from nuclear installations. The committee's terms of reference are "to assess and advise Government and the Devolved Administrations on the health effects of natural and man-made radiation in the environment and to assess the adequacy of the available data and the need for further research". COMARE has now published seven reports and has also published several statements into allegations of health effects around nuclear installations. The committee has also made many recommendations for further investigations and examines these studies as they become available. Details of the committee's reports can be found on its web site at www.open.gov.uk/doh/comare.htm.