Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 2 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 9 March 2005. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Wednesday, 9 March 2005 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what changes his Department plans to make to its (a) policies and (b) regulatory practices following the recommendations of the Report of the Committee Examining Radiation Risks of Internal Emitters, with particular reference to risk estimates.

Answer: Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes his Department plans to make to its (a) policies and (b) regulatory practices following the recommendations of the Report of the Committee Examining Radiation Risks of Internal Emitters, with particular reference to risk estimates. [220590] Miss Melanie Johnson: I have considered the report from the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) about the final report from Committee Examining Radiation Risks of Internal Emitters (CERRIE). I accept COMARE's view that: "In the field of radiological protection in general, the precautionary approach has been standard practice and models have been refined as new information has become available." I therefore do not consider that there needs to be a change in the Department's policies. Similarly, I consider that current regulatory practices, in particular the environmental regulatory framework regulated by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, are sound.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 431 c1915W;431 c1908W; 220590
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Health hazards Radiation Radiation exposure Risk assessment Committee Examining Radiation Risks of Internal Emitters
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk