§ Mr. McLoughlinTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to publish the report of the expert advisory committee on biocides; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanI have arranged today for a copy of this report which was produced in response to a recommendation in the Badenoch report and which is being published by HMSO to be placed in the Library. I am grateful to Dr. Wright, director of Newcastle public health laboratory and his committee for producing a thorough analysis of the use of biocides in minimising the risk of multiplication of legionellae pneumophilia in hospital cooling tower water systems and other water systems in hospitals.
The report is being sent to all health authorities in England so that those responsible for maintenance of hospital cooling tower systems may take its recommendations fully into account. The Department will be pursuing those recommendations which call for national action. Although this report deals only with water systems in health care premises, I hope that it will receive a wider readership as much of the report will be of more general application.
I am sure that it will be very useful to those concerned with the operation and maintenance of health buildings and will help in reducing the risk of the spread of legionnaire's disease in hospitals. I also trust that, as the report has wider general application, it will serve as a further reminder to employers of their responsibility, under the Health and Safety and Work etc. Act, to maintain a safe working environment for their employees.