Summary of Programme of Work

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In April 1999 the then Minister for Public Health, Tessa Jowell, at the Department of Health (DH) announced that she had requested the Chairman of the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB), Sir Walter Bodmer, to set up an Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP). This request was backed by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Ministers.

The appointment of the Chairman of IEGMP, Sir William Stewart, FRS, FRSE, was announced in June 1999. The terms of reference and nine members were subsequently announced in August. Two additional members were appointed in October. Delays in appointment were caused by the need for consultation on membership and concerns about ensuring there were no conflicts of interest. NRPB provided the secretariat and there were observers from DH, DTI and the Board of NRPB. The terms of reference of the Expert Group were:

To consider present concerns about the possible health effects from the use of mobile phones, base stations and transmitters, to conduct a rigorous assessment of existing research and to give advice based on the present state of knowledge. To make recommendations on further work that should be carried out to improve the basis for sound advice.

The first formal meeting of the Expert Group was held in September when working arrangements and the overall structure of the report were considered. The Expert Group agreed to meet monthly, to seek views widely and to have open meetings around the country.

Adverts were placed in national newspapers, in the New Scientist in September and on this website calling for written evidence. Replies were received from 174 individuals and organisations.

Meetings of the Expert Group have included consideration of: how mobile phones work, exposure characterisation and guidelines, future developments in the technology, epidemiology and experimental biology in relation to possible health effects as well as planning issues. At its meetings presentations have been given by invited representatives of environmental groups and industry as well as by individuals.

In addition to formal meetings of the Expert Group there have been open meetings for the public to give their views. These have been advertised in local newspapers and by press releases. Open meetings have been held in Edinburgh (November), Liverpool (December), Cardiff (January), London (January) and Belfast (February). These meetings have generally been held in universities or medical schools. Summaries of the issues raised are given on this website.

Information on the work of the Expert Group has been circulated to Members of Parliament (659) and Members of the House of Lords, to Members of the Scottish Parliament (129), the National Assembly for Wales (60) and the Northern Ireland Assembly (108).

The Expert Group completed work on its report in April. Its report on Mobile Phones and Health was submitted to the Minister for Public Health, Yvette Cooper, and published on 11 May 2000.

Details of the work of Expert Group, its terms of reference, membership and short curricula vitae of members, dates, venues and summaries of open meetings as well as summaries of invited presentations are posted on this website along with its final report.

First issued 11 May 2000