§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health in which areas service level agreements are not yet signed to ensure that the central Health Protection Agency is receiving the information it needs to perform its role in public health; and if he will make a statement. [125011]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Health Protection Agency (HPA) is continuing to receive the information it needs to perform its public health role and its public health services are continuing on a "business as usual" basis. The HPA is actively involved in discussions with national health service trusts to finalise Service Level Agreements as a basis for the future needs and development of public health services. There has been no change in the national level of laboratory reporting to the HPA's Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre since the establishment of the HPA.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on coverage of food, water, environmental and microbiology testing for the purposes of public health since the establishment644W of the Health Protection Agency and the consequent transfer of responsibilities; and if he will make a statement. [125013]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonWe are not aware of any representations to this Department on the coverage of food, water or environmental microbiology testing for the purposes of public health since the establishment of the Health Protection Agency (HPA). These services are commissioned by the HPA or provided by its own laboratories on the same basis as previously organised by the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS). The transition from the PHLS to the HPA has been implemented on a 'business as usual' basis.