To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to address the trend in people purchasing home piercing kits rather than approaching regulated clinics following the recent report by the Health Protection Agency.

The research by the Health Protection Agency, which the Department funded, indicates that nearly 90 per cent. of cosmetic piercings were carried out in specialist piercing shops, other shops or by mobile piercers. Cosmetic piercing that is carried out for gain on domestic premises is subject to local authority regulation. We keep the issue of home cosmetic piercing kits under review.