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Head Lice

Dr. Brand: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the level of incidence of head lice in schools in each of the last five years; [8496]

(2) what guidelines his Department has issued regarding the (a) prevention of and (b) treatment for head lice in schools. [8495]

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidelines his Department issues to schools concerning the prevention and detection of head lice amongst pupils; and if he will make a statement; [8559]

(2) how many children contracted head lice in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [8552]

Ms Jowell: In April 1996, the Department of Health launched a poster and leaflet campaign--"The Prevention and Treatment of Head Lice"--which advises families and teachers on the options for dealing with this problem. So far, over 1 million copies of the leaflet have been sent to parents, teachers and health professionals. Further guidance was included in the Department's publication, "Child Health in the Community: A Guide to Good Practice" issued in September 1996. National figures on the incidence of head louse infestation are not collected because not all cases are detected. However, the number of prescriptions for lotions to treat infestation quadrupled between 1991 and 1996 from 583,000 to 2,161,000.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the health risks associated with the use of malathion in head lice shampoo; and if he will make a statement. [8555]

Ms Jowell: Malathion is a licensed human medicinal product which has been subject to the usual processes of assessment of safety, quality and efficacy. As for all medicines marketed in the United Kingdom, its safety has been monitored continuously after marketing. No serious toxicity has been identified in normal conditions.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate how many children have suffered side effects after using head lice shampoo containing malathion; and if he will make a statement. [8556]

Ms Jowell: The Committee on Safety of Medicines has received 23 suspected adverse reactions reports associated with malathion head louse treatment via the Yellow Card scheme. Of these, 19 occurred in children. However, a report does not necessarily mean that the reaction was caused by the medicine.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received concerning the health risks posed by the use of organo-phosphates in head lice shampoos. [8557]

Ms Jowell: The Department of Health, through the Medicines Control agency, has received 12 representations on this issue since November 1995.

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Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines his Department issues to pharmacists selling head lice shampoo containing (a) malathion and (b) other organo-phosphates; what proposals he has to take further action; and if he will make a statement. [8558]

Mr. Milburn: Central guidelines have not been issued concerning the sale of Malathion. Health authorities issue guidelines on the rotational policies for treatment of head lice and these may include advice on use of Malathion.

In November 1995, the Chief Medical, Pharmaceutical and Nursing Officers wrote a joint letter to health professionals, including pharmacists, concerning the restriction for human medicinal use by limiting Carbaryl to prescription only use. Copies of this letter have been placed in the Library. This followed a review of information by the Committee on Carcinogenicity and advice from the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and the Committee of the Safety of Medicines. The insecticide Carbaryl is an active ingredient in a number of shampoos and lotions used to treat headlice.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of head lice medication currently contains permethrin and no malathion; and if he will make a statement. [8560]

Ms Jowell: There are eight products currently marketed which are indicated for the treatment of head lice. One, Lyclear Creme Rinse, contains permethrin but no malathion.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of using permethrin in head lice shampoo; and if he will make a statement. [8561]

Ms Jowell: The first medicinal product for human use for a shampoo containing permethrin was granted a marketing authorisation in November 1988. This product is indicated for the treatment of head lice. Before any medicinal product can be granted a marketing authorisation, applicants must submit data which demonstrates the efficacy of their product for the indications claimed. The data are fully assessed and scrutinised by experienced clinicians at the Medicines Control Agency. Additionally, all products containing an active ingredient not previously authorised in a medicinal product are further considered by the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM). The CSM considered the application and the efficacy of permethrin in 1988. A marketing authorisation can be issued only if the applicant has satisfactorily proved the efficacy of the product to the satisfaction of the Licensing Authority.

Obesity

Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new initiatives his Department is planning in respect of obesity; and if he will make a statement. [8742]

Ms Jowell: Tackling obesity is a particularly challenging problem. "The Health of the Nation" target is to reduce the percentages of men and women aged 16-64 who are obese to 6 per cent. for men and 8 per cent. for women by 2005. However in 1995 15 per cent. of men and 16.5 per cent. of women were obese, highlighting the gravity of the problem. Obesity is a long-term problem and needs a long-term strategy. We will continue to

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support the action on obesity and obesity-related illness initiated by the Nutrition Task Force and the Physical Activity Task Force which addresses:

(a) general initiatives offering guidance on correct bodyweight;


(b) the particular problems of high risk groups e.g. those already overweight; and


(c) treatment of those who are already obese.

These activities focus on addressing the major influences on increasing fatness--fat in the diet and physical activity. The nutrition task force programme comprises a number of projects which are continuing after the task force itself has completed its work.

The role of physical activity in helping to maintain a healthy weight is well recognised. The "Active for Life" campaign, which is funded by the Department and run by the Health Education Authority, promotes the value of increased physical activity. The campaign targeted people aged 16 to 74 in its first year and will continue to run to 1999. As part of this campaign we are also looking at physical activity and young people. To this end, an expert conference was held in June to establish the optimum levels of physical activity for school aged children and young people. A report and consensus statement will be published in the autumn.

We also recognise how important a balanced diet is for giving young people a healthy start in life. This is why my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has recently proposed the introduction of nutrition standards for inclusion in school meals contracts.

Junior Doctors

Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what methods his Department is considering for the reduction of junior doctors' hours; what advice it is giving to local medical work force advisory groups and New Deal task forces in this respect; and if he will make a statement. [8741]

Mr. Milburn: The National Health Service Executive issued an Executive letter to trusts, health authorities, task forces and local medical workforce advisory groups in January (EL(97)2). The Executive also published a draft consultation document, "A Working Draft to Develop the Quality Framework for Hospital and Community Health Services Medical and Dental Staffing", in April. Both documents (copies of which are available in the Library) contain the current guidance on action to reduce junior doctors' hours. Options for further action will be reviewed over the coming months.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Traffic (Bangor)

Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the daily traffic flows each way on the Bangor dual carriageway ring-road and the Balloo/Rathgael road in Bangor. [7719]

Mr. Murphy: Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Roads Service under its Chief Executive, Mr. W. J. McCoubrey. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

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Letter from W. McCoubrey to Mr. Robert McCartney, dated 11 July 1997:

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to respond to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question about traffic flows on the West Circular Road (Bangor ring-road) and the Balloo/Rathgael Roads, Bangor.
Roads Service has traffic monitoring equipment which is used on a rotational basis to collect data at a number of sites throughout Northern Ireland. The most recent information available for each of the roads in question is as follows:

Location	Traffic flow (vehicles per day)
West Circular Road (between Belfast	10,180	(east bound)
Road and Clandeboye Road)	11,200	(west bound)
Rathgael Road (between Belfast Road		Each way
and Clandeboye Road)	12,182	flows not
Balloo Road (between Newtownards	14,449	available for
Road and Bloomfield Road South)		these roads




I do hope you find this information helpful.

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