To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what action will be taken to ensure that safety limits in relation to radiation exposure are lowered at nuclear establishments in Great Britain.

Dose limits and radiation protection standards apply to all workers across the European Community who work with ionising radiation, including those in the nuclear industry. The directive that sets these standards—European Community directive 80/836/EURATOM—as amended by 84/467/ EURATOM, is implemented in the United Kingdom by the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985—IRR 85—and the mirror Northern Ireland legislation. These contain both statutory limits and requirements to carry out investigations at lower levels.Last year, the Health and Safety Commission published part 4 of the approved code of practice supporting IRR 85 which contains additional guidance on restriction of exposure, but no change of statutory dose limit, to take account of recent revisions of the risk estimates from exposure to ionising radiation. This is an interim measure, pending revision of the European Community directive and subsequent revision of IRR 85 over the next few years.