Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the recent outbreak of Legionnaires'disease in the North Down area; and what steps he is taking to prevent such an outbreak reccurring. [212039]Angela Smith: Three people living in the North Down and Ards area were diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease since the end ofDecember. An incident team chaired by a Communicable Diseases Control Consultant in the Eastern Health and Social Services Board wasset up to investigate these cases.The Health and Safety Executive (HSENI) and Environmental Health Officers are actively working to try and establish a source of thelegionella infection and are continuing with their investigations. HSENI has liaised with the district council to arrange inspectionof several cooling towers and similar plant and their retreatment/disinfection. Treatment regimes have also been reviewed and otherpotential sources of infection in the area examined. Appropriate advice on cleaning and decontamination measures has been provided.Further laboratory reports results are awaited in a number of cases.