§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the issuing of updated guidelines on the appropriate level of priority of(a) the across-the-board BCG vaccination against TB for secondary school children and (b) selective vaccination, and on the currency of application of the last previously issued guidelines.
§ Mr. SackvilleHealth authorities were advised in a letter from the Department of Health dated 21 August 1990 that, in line with the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, the schools BCG immunisation programme should continue until at least the 1995–96 academic year. The Government are committed to review this policy in that year after consideration of the results of the national survey of notifications of tuberculosis in England and Wales. This survey was conducted by the Public Health Laboratory Service in 1993 and the preliminary results of the survey should be available by the end of this year.
The importance of the BCG schools immunisation programme has been drawn to the attention of all regional health authorities through the regional review process; regions have been asked to consider carefully whether their arrangements to protect against tuberculosis are adequate. Details of the Department's policy on BCG immunisation are contained in the health departments' memorandum "Immunisation against infectious disease", copies of which are available in the Library.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what consultations she has had with the Director of the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, at the Public Health Laboratory Service, Colindale, concerning the national survey into the incidence of TB and the impact on it of the withdrawal or continuance of BCG vaccination programme for secondary school children by health authorities in England and Wales;
131W(2) when she now expects publication of the national survey into the incidence of TB and the benefits or disbenefits of (a) continuing or (b) withdrawing across-the-board BCG vaccination of secondary school children; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvilleOfficials have been in close touch with the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre during the process of the national survey of notifications of tuberculosis. The preliminary results of the survey should be available by the end of this year, although fuller analysis may be necessary before the implications for BCG immunisation can be considered. The Department will receive a copy of the report and will then be advised on any possible necessary action by the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation which advises the health departments on all matters relating to immunisation.
The Government are committed to review the schools' BCG immunisation programme in 1995, taking into consideration the results of the national survey of notifications of tuberculosis, until which time the present programme will continue.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has had in relation to the proposed removal of the national TB reference laboratory from the University hospital of Wales, Cardiff, to Dulwich; what consultations she has had with the Director of the Public Health Laboratory Service, Colindale, concerning the proposal; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvilleWe have received no representations. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has direct responsibility for public health laboratories in Wales.