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Mobile Phone Mast Emissions: Health Assessment
Lord Pilkington of Oxenford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they can assure residents living within two kilometres of the proposed TETRA (Trans European Trunked Radio Access) mast to be built at Dowlish Ford, near Ilminster, Somerset, that this will have no adverse impact on their health.[HL986]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The report of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (the Stewart report) provided a rigorous and comprehensive assessment of existing research related to concerns about the possible effects on health of emissions from mobile phones and base stations (masts). The report concluded "that the balance of evidence indicates that there is no general risk to health of people living near base stations on the basis that exposures are expected to be small fractions of guidelines". For instance, under the current measurement programme of mobile phone base stations near schools, the highest level measured has
been one six hundredth (1/600) of the recommended guideline level. As with mobile phone base stations, those supporting TETRA need to comply with guidelines. In view of the concerns expressed by residents near base stations and the indirect effect on people's well-being, the Stewart group made a number of recommendations aimed at improving the public consultation and the availability of information about the siting of base stations. The Government are implementing these recommendations and information can be found on the mobile phones web site (www.doh.gov.uk/mobilephones).RAF Feltwell: Purpose of US Use of Facilities
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What information they have received from the United States authorities about the use of the facilities at the deep and near space tracking facility at Feltwell in Norfolk in connection with the proposed United States missile defense system; whether they will seek assurances from the United States Government that no such use will be made of these facilities in the future; and whether the agreement they have with the United States on the operation of Feltwell allows it to be applied to military purposes of any kind.[HL1299]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): RAF Feltwell is made available to the United States visiting forces under the NATO Status of Forces Agreement of 1951 for the purposes of our common defence. It has no role in
ballistic missile detection or tracking, and nor are we aware of any suggestions that it could do so as part of any missile defence system.Meat Consumed by Services Personnel: Percentage Purchased from Overseas
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What percentage of meat consumed by services personnel was purchased from overseas in 1999-2000 and 2000-01.[HL1317]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: From 1999-2000, 51 per cent of the meat consumed by services personnel was purchased from overseas. From 2000-01 the figure was 52 per cent.
Countries Supplying Meat to Ministry of Defence
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
- From which countries suppliers of meat to the Ministry of Defence obtained meat in 1999-2000 and 2000-01.[HL1318]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Ministry of Defence obtained supplies of meat from the following countries: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, France, the Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain and Uruguay as well as the United Kingdom.
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