HC Deb 02 February 1978 vol 943 cc250-1W
Mr. Patrick Jenkin

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why he does not intend to publish the Howie Report on health hazards in medical laboratories; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Ennals

The working party to formulate a code of practice for the prevention of infection in clinical laboratories, under the chairmanship of Sir James Howie, has now submitted its report to my Department. I have studied the report and the code of practice which it embodies with great interest, and have placed a copy in the Library of the House. Further copies are available from my Department. It had not at any time been my intention to do other than publish this report.

I am grateful for this opportunity to make a statement on this matter, because I am aware that the premature leakage to the Press of an early working draft of the working party's report has caused a great deal of confusion. I had hoped that the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Nelson and Colne (Mr. Hoyle) on 5th December 1977 would have cleared up any misunderstandings, but I am sorry to say that they have persisted. Now that the report has been received—and I would stress that this is only within the past few days—my Department will make the necessary arrangements for consultation with the health authorities regarding the implementation of the code and action on the other recommendations with particular reference to timing and resource implications. The Department will also consult with the Health and Safety Executive. Appropriate professional bodies will have the opportunity to comment on the report if they wish. At the conclusion of the consultations guidance will be issued to health authorities, which will be circulated at the same time as a printed version of the code is published for widespread laboratory use.

I should like to take this opportunity to express my warm thanks to Sir James Howie and his colleagues on the working party, and the collaborating laboratories, for their work during the past two years. I am sure that the document they have produced will provide an invaluable and lasting contribution to the prevention of infection in clinical laboratories.