HC Deb 30 March 1993 vol 222 cc181-2W
Mr. Cryer

To ask the Secretary of State for Health. what conclusions she has reached from the cumulative data acquired during investigations into food poisoning outbreaks.

Mr. Sackville

The cumulative data acquired is not in itself sufficient to draw firm conclusions. These data provide valuable indicators which prompt further analytical and laboratory investigations.

Mr. Cryer

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will introduce legislation to require local authorities to publish the results of food poisoning investigations; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Sackville

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours) on 15 March at column6.

Mr. Cryer

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what performance standards apply to public sector agencies undertaking the investigation of food poisoning outbreaks; and if these standards are published;

(2) whether she will review the quality of food poisoning outbreak investigations by local authorities to ensure uniformity of standards of inquiry.

Mr. Sackville

There are no uniform performance standards which apply to public sector agencies. The Government have set up an informal working party to produce guidance to all investigating officers on the management of and reporting of foodborne illness.

The Department of Health and the Department of the Environment also issued joint guidance, in October 1991, to health authorities and local authorities reminding them of the collaborative arrangements that should have been made for communicable disease control. A copy is available in the Library.

Mr. Cryer

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many reports of salmonella food poisoning her Department has received from local authorities either directly or via the public health laboratory for each year since 1987.

Mr. Sackville

Reports of cases of salmonellosis are received via the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS). The table shows total of laboratory reports of all salmonellas made to the public health laboratory service:

Salmonella in humans England and Wales Annual totals 1987 to 1992
Year All salmonellas
1987 20,532
1988 27,478
1989 29,998
1990 30,112
1991 27,693
11992 31,352

Source: PHLS/SVS Update on Salmonella Infection.

1 1992 data is not directly comparable with previous years because of the introduction from I January 1992 of a new Public Health Laboratory Service reporting system for human salmonellosis.

Mr. Cryer

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what private bodies are employed by her Department to undertake investigations into food poisoning outbreaks.

Mr. Sackville

None.

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