You asked whether the IEE would be prepared to make a formal submission of evidence to the Committee on the topic of mobile phone safety, addressing both transmitter base stations and mobile hand-held telephones.

  The Institution does not propose to make a formal submission of evidence to the Science and Technology Committee at this stage, since there is no hard scientific fact on which to base that evidence. However the members of the Committee may find the factual information below of assistance in its work.

  The Institution of Electrical Engineers has a membership of almost 140,000 professional engineers representing a wide range of engineering disciplines including power engineering, electronics, communications, computing, software engineering, and manufacturing. The Institution has responsibility for the accreditation of first degree engineering courses and for ensuring that membership of the profession is only granted to those with the appropriate qualifications and experience. The IEE considers that engineering is an essential element of our society, necessary for national wealth and well being.

  The Institution of Electrical Engineers has monitored claims for the biological effects of radiation for a number of years, concentrating on low and mains frequencies. About two years ago the role of the Biological Effects Working Party, as the committee is called, was extended to include microwave frequencies, including those used by television, FM radio and mobile telephony. Membership of the Working Party was extended to include acknowledged and independent expertise at these higher frequencies. A staff member of the National Radiological Protection Board also sits on the Working Party.

  The Working Party operates by carrying out peer reviews of all the available published scientific papers relating to biological effects of radiation in the DC to microwave frequency range. It assesses papers for quality of science, validation of results by other workers, the value of the work to increasing scientific understanding and a number of other metrics. The Working Party reviews approx 1,400 papers per annum from a wide-ranging computerised literature search. The Working Party will continue this surveillance of scientific papers. The Institution believes that it makes an important contribution to public awareness on this topic.

  As a result of this work it has concluded that to date there is no convincing evidence to support the contention that transmitter base stations and mobile hand-held telephones cause any damage to human health. Further scientific investigation and validation will be required to determine whether the use of mobile hand-held telephones can cause any measurable effect in human beings—and whether any effect that may be discovered and confirmed can have any possible effects on human health.

  I hope this explanation of the Institution's position is of help to the Committee. Please contact me again if there is any way that you believe that the Institution can be of further assistance at this stage.

22 July 1999