§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her attention was brought to recent e-mailed communications by individual members of the Committee Examining Radiation Risks of Internal Emitters critical of the work of the Committee prior to the completion of the Committee's work; and if she will examine the actions of these Committee members in respect of their compatibility with the commitments entered into as conditions of membership of the Committee. [185522]
803W
§ Mr. MorleyI have been made aware of the recent e-mailed communication by individual members of the Committee Examining Radiation Risks of Internal Emitters (CERRIE), although this was not sent directly to the Department. CERRIE held its last formal meeting on 24 June, and its report is currently being finalised by the Committee members, who anticipate that it will be ready for publication in the autumn. It is regrettable that members of the Committee have chosen to pre-empt publication by issuing a statement critical of the report and of other members of the Committee. We will welcome an informed debate on the scientific issues in the CERRIE report, once it is published. In the meantime, I have asked officials to consider with the Committee Chairman whether there are any lessons to be learned from the experiences with the CERRIE Committee that should be taken into account in the future.