§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce a screening programme covering all races in respect of(a) sickle cell anaemia and (b) thalassaemia; and if he will make a statement. [35104]
§ Mr. HoramIndividual health authorities are responsible for assessing the needs of their resident populations and for purchasing services, including haemoglobinopathy screening, to provide for those needs. In doing so, we would expect them to have regard to the recommendations in the report of the Standing Medical Advisory Committee working party on sickle cell, thalassaemia and other haemoglobinopathies, published in February 1994.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, by health authority region for the last 12 months, the number of white caucasians who have been diagnosed as carrying(a) the sickle cell anaemia gene and (b) the thalassaemia gene; and if he will make a statement. [35103]