To ask the Scottish Executive what action it proposes in response to new evidence from the National Radiological Protection Board that there may be a connection between overhead power lines and certain cancers.

The Executive welcomes this new study.

The NRPB, which provides expert advice on these matters, considers that this new report provides no additional scientific evidence to require a change in exposure guidelines.

That said, the Executive fully supports the report’s recommendation that the current uncertainty indicates a need for further research. Current research includes a number of Government-funded studies in this country and support for the multi-national Electromagnetic Fields Project set up and co-ordinated by the World Health Organisation. The UK Government will also work with the NRPB to begin new research into the factors that lead to certain households having higher levels of electromagnetic fields.