HC Deb 21 February 1989 vol 147 cc595-6W
13. Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of perinatal deaths, stillbirths and miscarriages which have occurred over the past year have been examined for the presence of listeria monocytogenes.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Post-mortem examinations for still births or perinatal deaths to establish the presence of listeria monocytogenes would be carried out only at the request of clinical staff or a coroner, and we do not hold information on those requests centrally.

Mr. Robin Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many miscarriages and stillbirths have been related to the consumption of soft cheeses in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

[holding answer 16 February 1989]: To date, there have been no confirmed reports to the public health laboratory service of miscarriages and stillbirths associated with the consumption of soft cheese. There were nine reported stillbirths associated with listeriosis in 1988.