§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what statistics his Department has collated on the incidence of head lice amongst school children in the last five years. [36971]
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§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the effects on children's health of trends in the incidence of head lice in the last five years. [36972]
§ Ms JowellThe Department's policy research programme and the central National Health Service research and development programmes are not currently supporting any research into this subject, due to the pressure of other priorities. The Medical Research Council, which is funded by the Office of Science and Technology, commissions most of the Government's research into bio-medical and clinical issues. The council is always open to new sound scientific proposals in competition with other applications.