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Written question asked by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative) on Monday, 19 March 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 27 March 2001. It was answered by Lord Hain (Labour) on Tuesday, 27 March 2001 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent representations he has received on the setting up of a Royal Commission on the relationship between overhead power lines and the incidence of cancer and leukaemia; and if he will make a statement. - Inc ref to Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation report: "Extremely low frequency Electromagnetic Fields and the Risk of Cancer" on 6 March 2001 (Documents of the NRPB Vol 12, No 1, 2001) in the Library.
Answer

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received on the setting up of a Royal Commission on the relationship between overhead power lines and the incidence of cancer and leukaemia; and if he will make a statement. [155052] Mr. Hain: The only representation which has been received on the setting up of a Royal Commission was the recent correspondence forwarded by the hon. Member for the Vale of York from one of her constituents, Professor Henshaw. The hon. Lady will know that the Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation published its report: "Extremely low frequency Electromagnetic Fields and the Risk of Cancer" on 6 March 2001. (Documents of the NRPB Vol 12, No 1, 2001). Copies have been placed in the Library of the House. The independent Advisory Group that is chaired by Sir Richard Doll, reports directly to the Board of the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB). Its terms of reference are: "To review work on the biological effects of non-ionising radiation relevant to human health and to advise on research priorities". The remit covers static and extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields (including those at power frequencies) and radio-frequency fields and radiation such as infrared, visible and ultraviolet. The members of the Advisory Group are appointed by the NRPB on the basis of their proven research expertise. They are also independent of Government and commercial interests. Membership reflects the work of the Advisory Group at any particular time. There is every benefit in maintaining a group that is independent and comprises a number of particularly eminent scientists. I could not foresee the need for establishing a Royal Commission on this issue.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
155052; 365 c580-1W;365 c582-3W
Session
2000-01
Subjects
Cancer Health hazards Electric cables Radiation exposure Leukaemia Electromagnetic fields
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk