To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department gives to pregnant women about the dangers of listeria. [35598]

Advice to pregnant women about listeriosis is contained in the Department's free booklet, "While You Are Pregnant: Safe Eating and How to Avoid Infection From Food and Animals", copies of which are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of listeriosis have been reported in each year since 1967. [35596]

The number of cases of listeriosis reported to the Public Health Laboratory Service in England and Wales between 1967 and 1995 is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to continue to make the public aware of the dangers of listeria in certain food. [35597]

The Department keeps the need for advice to the public on food safety issues under ongoing review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what new information regarding the potential of listeria in certain foods became available in 1989 that was not available in 1987; [35716](2) when the Chief Medical Officer first brought the dangers of listeria to the attention of his Department and the Secretary of State for Health. [35717]

The timing of the Department's advice to the public on food borne listeriosis is being considered as part of a current court case, and I cannot comment further at present.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish figures for the number of (a) miscarriages, (b) stillbirths, (c) neo-natal deaths, (d) maternal deaths and (e) birth defects which are known to have occurred relating to pregnancy associated cases of listeriosis since 1985; and if he will make a statement; [24224]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many reported cases there have been in each year since 1967 of (a) stillbirths, (b) miscarriages, (c) congenital abnormalities and (d) child deaths that can be attributed to listeriosis. [35599]

[holding answer 17 July 1995]: I refer the right hon. Member and the hon. Member to the reply that I gave the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 18 July for information about stillbirths and infant deaths between 1 July 1985 and 31 January 1989 in England and Wales where listeriosis was mentioned on the stillbirth or death certificate. There have been no maternal deaths relating to pregnancy associated cases of listeriosis since 1985. There are no known congenital malformations in the new born associated with in utero listeria infection. Information about miscarriages is not collected centrally. The further information requested can only be provided at disproportionate cost.