The ESG welcomes the announcement made by the Minister for the Environment Ernest Britto yesterday of the awarding of a contract to a team from the National Environmental Research Institute at the Aarhus University in Denmark, to begin an Epidemiological Study in Gibraltar.

The group has campaigned for several years now for an independent and transparent study to be carried out on populations around the Bay and is therefore delighted that this important programme will now get underway if only at a local level so far.

There are serious concerns of higher than average rates of cancer not only in our community but within towns around the Bay so rigorous and expert assessment of these issues as advocated also by public health specialist Professor Joan Benach, is clearly both overdue and necessary. It is further hoped that such independent studies will also be conducted in the Spanish towns as soon as possible.

The ESG confirms its commitment to assist those undertaking the studies as best it can.