HC Deb 08 May 1990 vol 172 cc75-6W
Mr. Pawsey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth of 26 April,Official Report, columns 293–94, (1) what advice is available to local education authorities which would assist them further to reduce the incidence of head lice;

(2) what advice is available to health authorities which would assist them further to reduce the incidence of head lice.

Mr. Dorrell

The Health Education Authority has published guidance including a booklet, "What to do about Head Lice", copies of which have been placed in the Library, which is widely available to both health and local education authorities, as well as to the general public. Pharmaceutical companies also publish information on the use of their products in the treatment and prevention of head lice infestation.

Mr. Pawsey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth of 26 April,Official Report, columns 293–94, about head lice, if certain geographical areas are more affected than others.

Mr. Dorrell

The table shows the number of infestations with vermin among children aged five to 14 in each of the regional health authorities for 1987–88.

Infestation with vermin: 1987–88 Number examined (thousands):
Number found to be infested (thousands):
Number of infested pupils as a percentage of 5–14 population
England
Individual examinations Individual pupils found to be infested Infested pupils as a percentage of 5–14 population
England 4,546.3 91.4 1.6
Northern 427.6 6.3 1.7
Yorkshire 586.1 10–8 2.4
Trent 577.3 9.2 1.6
East Anglia 60.9 3.2 1–3
North West Thames 200.1 4.7 1.1
North East Thames 176.8 8.2 1–8
South East Thames 92.2 3.6 0.8
South West Thames 147.6 3.4 1.0
Wessex 81.2 2.4 0.7
Oxford 17.5 1.1 0.3
South Western 303.7 8.1 2.1
West Midlands 812.8 16.4 2.5
Mersey 348.3 3.5 1.1
North Western 714.2 10.5 2.1

Mr. Pawsey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth of 26 April,Official Report, columns 293–94, about head lice, if the incidence of infection is greater among primary or secondary pupils.

Mr. Dorrell

Data on incidence of the conditions listed in the reply of my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Freeman) on 26 April at columns293–94 is held centrally only for the age group 5–14.