asked the Minister of Health what is the average genetically significant dose of ionising rays received by the population as a result of medical X-rays, giving the figure in terms of a percentage of the natural background radiation per generation of 30 years; and how this compares with the figure that could be achieved if all hospitals improved to the standard of the best hospitals.

It is estimated that in 1957 this was about 20 per cent. for all medical radiology, and that a reduction to 6 per cent. or less would be possible by improving techniques.

Since this is a remarkable reduction, will the right hon. Gentleman tell us what he and his Department are doing to make certain that every hospital follows the techniques which are in use in the best of our hospitals?

When the Adrian Report was published last year, I drew the attention of hospital authorities to the need to conform with the code of practice, and that code itself is being further improved in the light of the Adrian Report.