Inquiry into Human Tissue Analysis in UK Nuclear Facilities (Redfern Inquiry)

The Inquiry into Human Tissue Analysis in UK Nuclear Facilities, announced by the government on 18 April 2007 and conducted by Michael Redfern QC.

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On 18 April 2007 The Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry at the time, made a statement to the House of Commons about the examination of tissue taken from some individuals who had worked in the nuclear industry and who died between November 1962 and August 1991.

Most employees worked at Sellafield but one individual worked at the Capenhurst nuclear site in Cheshire, and had transferred from Sellafield. In addition, there was data but not medical records at Sellafield relating to an employee at the Springfields nuclear site in Lancashire and six at Aldermaston. British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL) which held the relevant medical records had been able to identify 65 cases in which tissue was taken from individuals which was then analysed for the radionuclide content of organs.

The Secretary of State asked Michael Redfern QC, who conducted the Royal Liverpool Children's Inquiry at Alder Hey, to carry out an independent investigation into whether or not these examinations were carried out following the correct and proper procedures and whether the data obtained was used appropriately and with the necessary consents; to establish the facts, and to report.

The Redfern Inquiry was delivered to Parliament, on Tuesday 16 November 2010, by Chris Huhne, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.