asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those serious outbreaks of infection that have occurred in hospitals in each of the last five years that have been reported to the public health laboratory service.

I shall let the right hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any evidence to show that district health authorities operate local policies and procedures concerning control of infection in hospitals which vary significantly from the policies and procedures advised by his Department.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer, Official Report, 6 June, column 231, what criteria were used to distinguish between hospital infections that were considered preventable and not preventable.

The 1981 prevalence study was not designed to investigate the preventability of the infections found.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer, Official Report, 6 June, columns 230–1, about management of outbreaks of hospital infection, if he will explain the meaning of the term somewhat dated in relation to his Department's advice; and if he will give the date when advice on the management of specific outbreaks of infection in hospitals was last issued by his Department, saying what form it took.

Our advice on the management of infection control in hospitals and the management of specific outbreaks is contained in circular RHB(51)100 and HM(59)6. We are preparing to update this advice.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer, Official Report, 6 June, column 231, if he will place a copy of the public health laboratory service prevalence study of hospital acquired infection in the Library.

I shall arrange for copies to be placed in the Library as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services pursuant to the answer, Official Report, 6 June, column 231, if he will categorise those infections acquired before entry to hospital that were included in the 1981 public health laboratory service study, according to the severity of the infection, its incidence and whether or not it was considered to be preventable.

The prevalence study does not provide the information sought.