§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to issue new guidelines on the treatment of head lice. [25429]
§ Mr. BoatengThe Department's poster and leaflet campaign launched in April 1996—The Prevention and Treatment of Head Lice—gives parents and teachers advice on the options for dealing with head lice. It has been well received by community health workers who mount local campaigns as the need arises. We also continue to work with the Department for Education and Employment to promote best practice, focusing on a "whole school approach", where action is taken at the same time to detect and treat every case of head lice within the school thus minimising opportunities for re-infestation. In addition consultants in communicable disease control, who have local responsibility for public health programmes, are currently working on a review document on head lice.