HL Deb 04 November 2002 vol 640 cc62-3WA
Lord Laird

asked her Majesty's Government:

What was the per capita expenditure per region in the United Kingdom on acute hospital services over the past 10 years. [HL5986]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath:

Estimates of per capita expenditure on acute hospital services by region within England are shown in the table. Expenditure in other countries is the responsibility of the devolved administrations. Figures are not available before 1996–97.

certain strains of this organism can be associated with eggs, whether imported or domestically produced. It is also known that proper cooking of eggs will kill salmonella. The Food Standards Agency has, however, recently re-emphasised its advice on the handling and use of eggs which, if followed, addresses the main risk of food poisoning arising from this source.

Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will introduce testing of imported eggs for salmonella, along the same lines as the current British Lion egg testing programme. [HL6001]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath:

There are no plans to introduce routine testing of imported eggs for salmonella. However, the Food Standards Agency intends to carry out a microbiological survey of eggs on retail sale next year and this will include both imported and domestically produced samples.