I wholeheartedly agree with the hon. Gentleman. In the last Parliament, I drew that to the attention of the then Member for Welwyn Hatfield when she was a Treasury Minister, because the Office for National Statistics has responsibility for the veracity of the death certificates, not the national health service....

I wholeheartedly agree with the hon. Gentleman. In the last Parliament, I drew that to the attention of the then Member for Welwyn Hatfield when she was a Treasury Minister, because the Office for National Statistics has responsibility for the veracity of the death certificates, not the national health service....

It was in 1997. If that Government had addressed the problem then, we would be ahead of it now and many deaths would have been avoided.

It was in 1997. If that Government had addressed the problem then, we would be ahead of it now and many deaths would have been avoided.

I want to place on the record the fact that if people revisit the Official Report for that debate they will see that the hon. Member for Orpington (Mr. Horam), the Conservative Minister replying from the Dispatch Box, accused me of scaremongering.

I want to place on the record the fact that if people revisit the Official Report for that debate they will see that the hon. Member for Orpington (Mr. Horam), the Conservative Minister replying from the Dispatch Box, accused me of scaremongering.

A large part of England, anyway. Earlier, the right hon. Member for Charnwood (Mr. Dorrell) said that employers and employees are working gradually to provide smoke-free workplaces. The truth is that employers are now moving to insist on smoke-free workplaces because they fear litigation. Whether or not we pass the...

A large part of England, anyway. Earlier, the right hon. Member for Charnwood (Mr. Dorrell) said that employers and employees are working gradually to provide smoke-free workplaces. The truth is that employers are now moving to insist on smoke-free workplaces because they fear litigation. Whether or not we pass the...

: What constitutes that?

: What constitutes that?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

: I would like to clear up some confusion in my understanding of the positions of those on both Front Benches with regard to private clubs. As I understand it, both the Opposition spokesman and the Secretary of State are saying that even in private clubs, people will not be...

: I would like to clear up some confusion in my understanding of the positions of those on both Front Benches with regard to private clubs. As I understand it, both the Opposition spokesman and the Secretary of State are saying that even in private clubs, people will not be...

: You’ve only just come in.

: You’ve only just come in.

The hon. Member for Wyre Forest (Dr. Taylor) spoke about MRSA and the massive cover-up that has gone on for years about the scale of MRSA. He makes a true and valid charge. I, along with others, had made it over many years and particularly drew the attention of the...

The hon. Member for Wyre Forest (Dr. Taylor) spoke about MRSA and the massive cover-up that has gone on for years about the scale of MRSA. He makes a true and valid charge. I, along with others, had made it over many years and particularly drew the attention of the...

No, I cannot give way; I do not have time. We want more effort from the Government. They have begun to deal with the problem, but the message is that Ministers, Labour and Tory, should listen to Back Benchers more, instead of listening to civil servants, and give us at...

No, I cannot give way; I do not have time. We want more effort from the Government. They have begun to deal with the problem, but the message is that Ministers, Labour and Tory, should listen to Back Benchers more, instead of listening to civil servants, and give us at...

Hand on heart.

Hand on heart.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures he has instigated with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to ensure that (a) there is correct and consistent reporting of deaths caused by MRSA, or where it is a contributory factor and (b) death certificates are completed as directed by...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures he has instigated with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to ensure that (a) there is correct and consistent reporting of deaths caused by MRSA, or where it is a contributory factor and (b) death certificates are completed as directed by...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action has been taken to implement the guidelines for combating MRSA set out in the report of the working party headed by Mr G. Duckworth since its publication in 1990; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action has been taken to implement the guidelines for combating MRSA set out in the report of the working party headed by Mr G. Duckworth since its publication in 1990; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the voluntary reporting system by hospitals of MRSA cases is still in place; how many MRSA cases were recorded by the Public Health Laboratory Service in each year from 1983; and if he will make a statement; what the percentage change...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the voluntary reporting system by hospitals of MRSA cases is still in place; how many MRSA cases were recorded by the Public Health Laboratory Service in each year from 1983; and if he will make a statement; what the percentage change...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which hospitals stock antibiotics against strains of MRSA; and if he will make a statement; which antibiotics are effective against strains of MRSA; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which hospitals stock antibiotics against strains of MRSA; and if he will make a statement; which antibiotics are effective against strains of MRSA; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether a voluntary reporting system by hospitals in Northern Ireland of MRSA cases is in place. - Including ref to Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre and statistical reports in Library and at www.edscni.org.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether a voluntary reporting system by hospitals in Northern Ireland of MRSA cases is in place. - Including ref to Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre and statistical reports in Library and at www.edscni.org.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether hospitals in Northern Ireland are required to destroy bed linen of MRSA sufferers after use; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether hospitals in Northern Ireland are required to destroy bed linen of MRSA sufferers after use; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the results were of the national surveillance by 40 hospitals in respect of MRSA announced by the Minister on 19th March 1997; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the results were of the national surveillance by 40 hospitals in respect of MRSA announced by the Minister on 19th March 1997; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the isolation procedures set down by the Department to combat MRSA and which were operative as at 19th March 1997 are still operative; when the procedures were last brought to the attention of hospitals; and if he will make a statement;...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the isolation procedures set down by the Department to combat MRSA and which were operative as at 19th March 1997 are still operative; when the procedures were last brought to the attention of hospitals; and if he will make a statement;...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether hospitals are required to destroy bed linen of MRSA sufferers after use; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether hospitals are required to destroy bed linen of MRSA sufferers after use; and if he will make a statement.