§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they endorse the contents of the Interim Statement on Head Lice by the "Stafford Group" on behalf of the Public Health Medicine Environmental Group and circulated to all consultants in communicable disease, in which the treatment of head louse infestation by chemical means is the recommended course of action and wet combing, such as "Bug Busting", should only be resorted to if chemical means fail.
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonWe understand that the "Statement" referred to is in the nature of a working paper written to focus attention on the current state of scientific knowledge, rather than as a definitive work. It would be premature to endorse its conclusions at this time.
§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
What research has been or is being conducted into the resistance of human head lice, as opposed to those bred in laboratories, to chemical treatments currently available.
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonWe are not aware of any national research project in this area. However, checks to discover signs of resistance to head louse treatments are conducted upon locally captured lice in order to inform decisions as to which treatment offers the greatest efficacy at any one time.