E.coli update - updated!

I wrote last Thursday to Health Minister Brian Gibbons asking him to hold a formal inquiry into the E.Coli outbreak. There needs to be a proper inquiry into this outbreak. It should look at all aspects, including information to parents, response by the agencies concerned, and particularly the management of the food supply chain into schools and other services, including the checking of suppliers' premises and facilities. In a normal year we have about 30 cases of E.Coli - at the time I wrote to Brian we had about double that, but the numbers have risen again over the weekend to 122 now so we have had four times our normal annual rate from just one outbreak.

Brian agreed to the inquiry within 24 hours. Rhodri has promised it will be fully open and transparent. Today, we had a further question in the Assembly, and I spoke, and there will be a full debate tomorrow in plenary, which I hope to take part in. The number

of Rhondda schools affected has increased over the weekend. I said:

Leighton Andrews: As you will be aware, I wrote to you last Thursday asking you to hold the formal inquiry into the E.coli outbreak. First, I thank you for agreeing so quickly to hold such an inquiry. This remains an issue of serious concern throughout the communities affected. I urge you to ensure that any such inquiry looks specifically at the food supply chain into schools among other issues, and addresses the issue of the regularity and constancy of inspections of suppliers, which is a key issue. Can you assure us that it will be a broad inquiry that will look at a range of other issues, including the advice and information supplied?

Brian Gibbons: Yes. You are quite right; the sourcing of food, inspections, traceability, the response from the outbreak control team, liaison between local authorities, between local education authorities and local authorities, the involvement of the Food Standards Agency, and environmental health departments—to name just a few issues, as there are many more—are crucial areas to be engaged in, which is my intention. Hopefully, we can reach an agreement here to make sure that whatever inquiry takes place we will agree that all of these crucial issues are covered and dealt with