§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to use the test for the molecular marker specific for new variant CJD to screen(a) all cases of spongiform-like disease in humans and (b) all available preserved specimens of brains from cases of degenerative brain disease; and if he will make a statement. [1658]
§ Mr. HoramThis technique has yet to be fully evaluated and more work needs to be done, including the replication of the technique in other laboratories, before its usefulness as a practical screening tool for new variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease can be established. This work will be a priority in our centrally directed programme.