§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what information exists on the incidence of head lice in schools.
§ Mr. FreemanThe only relevant information held centrally is on the number of children found to be infected on examination by the school health service, with one or more of the following conditions: head lice, vermin, scabies, ringworm, inpetigo and veruccae. The figures in the table show a decline in the incidence of infestation from 1983 to 1987–88 (latest figures available) but there has also been a reduction in the number of pupils examined as the school health service staff have adopted a more targeted approach to health prevention and promotion.