To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what representations he has received following a recent London Weekend Television programme on the standards of testing by private sector pathology companies; and if he will make a statement;(2) what representations he as received with regard to the General Medical Services Committee's position on accepting a pathology service which cannot be certain to produce accurate test results; and if he will make a statement.

No such representations have been received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received and from what organisations, regarding any privatisation of the National Health Service pathology services, since 1 January; and if he will make a statement on his present policy towards privatisation of pathology services.

Since 1 January the only representation received regarding privatisation of the NHS pathology services is that from the Royal College of Pathologists.We have no plans for a central initiative involving privatisation of pathology services.