A Government scientist, who believes radiation from Bradwell Power Station has increased cancer rates in north Essex, claims he has been gagged by civil servants.
Dr Chris Busby said he and a colleague were prevented from publishing a minority report, contradicting the findings of fellow members of the Committee Examining Radiation Risks from Internal Emitters (Cerrie).
The majority of the Government committee's members back a report they will publish in the autumn, which shows living near nuclear plants like Bradwell does not have a significant effect on cancer rates.
Dr Busby disagrees and wants to include his own findings alongside the official verdict.
But Dr Busby said yesterday that civil servants at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) had written to all 12 members warning them not to go ahead with the move.
Defra has in the past rubbished the anti-nuclear academic's theories about Bradwell, claiming there were mathematical mistakes in his studies.
But Dr Busby claims the official data is flawed.
Dr Busby believes radioactive particles have become trapped in mud on the banks of the river Blackwater.
A spokesman for Defra said: "We don't comment on private correspondence between Defra and committee members, and we await with interest the committee's report."
Published Monday August 2, 2004
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