To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will investigate the effectiveness of disinfectant wipes using chlorine-based formulae against clostridium difficile; (246246)

The Department is currently commissioning research into the effectiveness of a number of commercial formulations that claim to be sporicidal which may include both chlorine and quaternary ammonium-based formulae.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to encourage NHS trusts to use chlorine-based wipes as disinfectants in hospitals; and if he will make a statement. (246254)

Existing guidance recommends chlorine based disinfectants that have proven sporicidal activity. The Department will continue to stress the need to use appropriate disinfectant materials.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria are used in the NHS to decide whether a disinfectant product is sporicidal; and if he will make a statement. (246255)

Data demonstrating a pass for the British Standard BS EN13704:2002 test “Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of sporicidal activity of chemical disinfectants used in food, industrial, domestic and institutional areas” are generally used to establish whether a chemical disinfectant has or does not have sporicidal activity. Purchase of disinfectant products is a matter for local national health service bodies.