Staff working for Birmingham City Council will not be provided with anti-bacterial hand gels to ward off swine flu after local authority bosses decided washing hands with soap and water is the best way to beat the potentially deadly virus.

Deputy council leader Paul Tilsley turned down a request to distribute wipes and gels around offices and places where people meet in buildings.

He said advice from the Director of Public Health was that “correct hand washing techniques” were most likely to destroy the H1N1 swing flu virus.

Prolonged use of gels was likely to aggravate skin problems such as eczema, he added.

Coun Tilsley (Lib Dem Sheldon) said: “Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are only a recommended alternative for those field staff who do not have ready access to washing facilities. These are not however advised for frequent or regular use due to the potential side effcts of eczema and deramatitis.

“Professional advice is that soap and water remains the mehod of choice for hand decontamination in the workplace.

“Accordingly, we are not going to arrange for the provision of alcohol gel in council buildings. It is not necessary for swine flu.

“The council has taken significant steps to ensure that staff, elected members and citizens are aware of the need to take universal hygeine precautions against swine flu.”

Labour councillor Mike Leddy, who is urging the council to provide hand wipes for its 60,000-strong workforce, said he was very disappointed by the reply.

Coun Leddy (Lab Brandwood) added: “Councillor Tilsley simply doesn’t seem to have understood this or thought it through properly.

“He is saying that people who sneeze should wash their hands as a precaution, but they may have to walk some way to find a tap to do so. In the meantime, they will be in danger of infecting other people.

“It would be far safer to provide anti-bacterial gels in all council offices.”