The nuclear option ...

Last month I wrote about the Agency's ongoing role in monitoring the after-affects of the Chernobyl power station accident in 1986. This week the announcement of consultation into the possibility of building new nuclear power plants in the UK reminds me that the Agency plays a role here, too.

Before any new plant is built, the impact of its potential planned discharges to the environment must be assessed. The nuclear regulators, the Environment Agency, for England and Wales, and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency north of the Border, therefore consult the Agency on the likely effects on foods close to the power station, and on the consumers that might eat them.

Every year the Agency monitors the actual levels of radioactivity in the environment and foods in areas surrounding nuclear plants and we publish the results in an annual report. This information and customised computer packages allow us to estimate the potential impacts of any new power stations.

Our advice on the safety of the new plants will go to the regulators and UK health ministers and we'll also publish the advice on our website.

All in all, we're in for a busy time.