HC Deb 19 July 1994 vol 247 c209W
Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Barnes) of 23 June,Official Report, column 305, what research she has undertaken into the link between growth hormone treatment, fertility treatment and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Mr. Sackville

So far, research supported by the Department has concentrated on tracing the patients treated with pituitary derived hormones and monitoring their health status. The researchers also keep in close touch with developments in other countries where these treatments were used. It is hoped that biomedical research on spongiform encephalopathies will eventually lead to the identification of the agent by which Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is transmitted.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what correspondence she has had with Dr. Bangham, former director of the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, on the investigation into Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease undertaken in Australia.

Mr. Sackville

None.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when her Department was first alerted to evidence linking Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease with growth hormone treatment and fertility treatment.

Mr. Sackville

On 11 April 1985.