I warmly thank the Department of Health and the former Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson), for providing the new strain C vaccine, in advance of the full immunisation programme, to the village of Ironville in my Constituency. It has, tragically, suffered a uniquely high incidence of meningitis, with a so far unexplained series of outbreaks over the past three years.

Will my hon. Friend note that four of the five confirmed strain C cases in Ironville—including the last death, Colin Whitehead—could be confirmed only by the polymerase chain reaction test, and that that also applies to 53 per cent. of the cases in southern Derbyshire?

I understand that only through using that test can the necessary evidence be found on which to base proper medical Intervention, as has happened in Ironville. Will my hon. Friend undertake to consider the policies of the Public Health Laboratory Service on future charges for PCR tests and assess their potential impact on the control of this absolutely terrifying disease?