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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT BY DEPUTY G.C.L. BAUDAINS OF ST. CLEMENT
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 12th JUNE 2012
Question
Given fears expressed in the past about possible health hazards associated with mobile telephone use, does the Minister have any such concerns regarding the increasing use of wireless internet connections and what research, if any, has been undertaken on this issue?
Answer
In 2007 the Health, Social Security and Housing Scrutiny Panel presented to the Assembly a report into the Perceived Health Effects of Mobile Phone Masts. The Panel concluded that procedures undertaken up to that point were an adequate initial precautionary basis on which to develop the establishment of additional mobile phone masts, but made recommendations to adopt an enhanced precautionary approach more stringent than that adopted by the UK. The recommendations made by the Sub-Panel to the Minister for Planning and Environment have been completed, namely, that all base stations are subject to a planning application to ensure compliance with internationally agreed emission levels, and that in the event that the base stations are found not to be compliant with the agreed levels, that the Minister can insist on their removal.
With reference to wireless internet connections, the report did comment (page 40) that the Sub- Panel were aware of an additional area of concern to the public, being the introduction of Wi-Fi technology. Finding 5 of the report indicated that "the Sub-Panel would encourage a further examination of any research into perceived health issues relating to emissions from such systems by the Department through relevant health professionals". The recommendation by the Sub-Panel on the need for further research into the area was directed to the Minister for Health and Social Services.
Since the 2007 report, the Minister for Health and Social Services has not given any evidence to the Minister for Planning and Environment to suggest that the increasing use of wireless internet connections has the potential for detrimental health effects.