HC Deb 08 February 2002 vol 379 c1234W
Dr. Murrison

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the value of the re-usable instruments destroyed following the advice of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee on their use. [32778]

Jacqui Smith

The information requested is not collected centrally.

Dr. Murrison

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors were used to inform purchasing decisions for single-use instruments for tonsillectomy in 2001. [32781]

Jacqui Smith

The following criteria were used to evaluate suppliers and their products to make sure that single use instruments were acceptable to the national health serviceThe instruments had to be of high quality; fit for purpose and clinically acceptable The suppliers had to be able to supply sterile instruments and were certified by the Medical Devices Agency standards to do so The instruments had to comply with the Medical Devices Directive 93/42/EEC (CE marking) Suppliers had to have manufacturing quality systems in place Price Suppliers had to be capable of supplying the required volumes within the short timescales Suppliers had to have a risk management policy in place.