Radiation Risks
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.
