Meeting with Lord Hunt

Following Professor Young's letter, on 20th October 2005 scientists met with Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to discuss the impacts of the Physical Agents (EMF) Directive and what steps should be taken to assess and amend the Directive.

The Department of Health responded with a letter to Professor Ian Young, defending the Directive on the grounds that it is based on ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection) and Heath Protection Agency (HPA) guidelines and is necessary to ensure staff safety. The letter raised the possibility of a round-table meeting with stakeholders and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

As a precursor to the round-table meeting, Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, who had ministerial responsibility for the HSE, met with representatives of the HSE and Dr Steve Keevil, Professor Peter Dawson and Dr Andrew Taylor, who were representing the Royal College of Radiologists. It was agreed that a solution to the issue was needed and a round-table consultative meeting was arranged for 5th January 2006. It was also concluded that it would be unlikely, in light of the concerns, that the legislation would be ‘gold plated’ with a static field limit.