Written question asked by Evan Harris (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 13 November 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 19 December 2001. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Wednesday, 19 December 2001 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the views of the Chairman of the CJD Incidents Committee relating to the report of Dr Hurrell. - Including figures and fact that the Department has published the results of the full survey, copy will be placed in Library.

Answer: Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the views of the Chairman of the CJD Incidents Committee relating to the report of Dr. Hurrell. [15422] Jacqui Smith: We gave careful consideration to the views of the chairman of the CJD incidents panel but decided there was nothing to be gained from letting the panel have sight of an out-of-date and partial survey that had been overtaken by more recent work. The preliminary survey was a "snapshot" of decontamination practices at some national health service hospitals and other health premises. It was prepared for specific purposes, one of which was to set in train further work--including deciding whether a full survey was needed. The Department has since announced: i. in October 2000, that a full survey would be undertaken; and ii. in January 2001, that a £200 million investment programme over the next two years to address decontamination standards would be set in train. The Department has published the results of the full survey, including the snapshot. A copy will be placed in the Library.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 377 c440-1W; 15422
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Contamination Hospitals Disease control Hygiene Patients Medical equipment Surgery CJD
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk