HC Deb 04 July 1996 vol 280 cc492-3W
Dr. Goodson-Wickes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the interdepartmental working group on tuberculosis has completed its report. [36128]

Mr. Horam

Yes. Two reports of the interdepartmental working group on tuberculosis, entitled "Recommendations for the prevention and control of tuberculosis at local level" and "Tuberculosis and homeless people", have been released today. Copies have been placed in the Library.

Mr. French

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has completed his consideration of the advice he has received from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on the future of the schools Bacillus Calmette-Guerin immunisation programme. [36105]

Mr. Horam

We have accepted fully the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation that Bacillus Calmette-Guerin should be routinely offered to all schoolchildren between the ages of 10 and 14. The advice we have received from the JCVI is in line with the current recommendation as set out in the Department of Health's memorandum "Immunisation Against Infectious Disease", copies of which are available in the Library. We would therefore expect all health authorities to offer BCG immunisation routinely to school children.