Public Health Laboratory Service

HC Deb 22 January 1992 vol 202 c227W

Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many samples were tested by the Public Health Laboratory Service on behalf of local authorities in each year since 1988; and if he will state the charging policy of his Department for this work together with the scale of charges.

Mr. Dorrell

The Public Health Laboratory Service tested the following number of samples collected by local authorities:

	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91
England Wales	318,027	320,434	309,905
Wales	29,149	24,419	22,697
Total	347,176	344,853	332,602

In future the Public Health Laboratory Service, like health authorities, will provide services under contract to those who require them. The way in which this general principle will apply to services provided to local authorities is still under discussion.