COMARE is an independent expert advisory committee with members chosen for their medical and scientific expertise and recruited from Universities, Research and Medical Institutes. Members have never been drawn from the Nuclear or Electrical Power Supply Industries.

The Committee offers independent advice to all Government Departments and Devolved Authorities, not just the Health Departments, and is responsible for assessing and advising them on the health effects of natural and man-made radiation. It is also asked to assess the adequacy of the available data and advise on the need for further research.

COMARE's terms of reference are "to assess and advise Government and the devolved authorities on the health effects of natural and man-made radiation and to assess the adequacy of the available data and the need for further research".

COMARE has representation from the following departments and agencies at their meetings:

• Department for Communities and Local Government
• Department of Energy and Climate Change
• Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• Department of Health
• Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety (Northern Ireland)
• Environment Agency
• Food Standards Agency
• Health Protection Agency
• Health and Safety Executive
• Information Services Division, NHS Scotland
• Medical Research Council
• Ministry of Defence
• Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
• Office of National Statistics
• Scottish Environment Protection Agency
• Scottish Government
• Welsh Government

 

Code of Practice

COMARE adheres to the guidelines laid down in the Code of Practice for Scientific Advisory Committees (Government Office for Science, December 2007) as is appropriate and in agreement with the Department of Health.

For details on current vacancies, please see Membership.

COMARE Contact Addresses:

COMARE Secretariat
c/o Public Health England

Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards

Chilton, Didcot, Oxon OX11 0RQ
Tel: 01235 825397
comare@phe.gov.uk

 

Lead Assessor for COMARE:

Dr Hilary Walker
Deputy Director
Health Protection
Room 157
Richmond House
79 Whitehall
SW1A  2NS
Tel: 0207 210 5884
hilary.walker@dh.gsi.gov.uk