The government has insisted it will not inoculate the wider public against smallpox - following confusion over its vaccination policy.

The mix-up came after Home Secretary David Blunkett told the House of Commons on Monday that he did not believe there was a problem with people asking their GP for a smallpox jab.

If there was a problem, he would talk to the Health Secretary Alan Milburn, he said.

But in a rebuff to Blunkett on Tuesday, Number 10 said the Home Secretary was merely "putting forward a point of view which the Health Secretary will look at".

I don't believe there is a problem with people approaching their own practitioner for a smallpox vaccination   David Blunkett

Fears over the UK's preparedness for a smallpox terror attack were also raised after a leading government adviser told BBC Radio 4's Today programme there was lethargy in Whitehall about the issue.

He suggested that official secrecy might be being used to hide inaction.

'Some staff vaccinated'

He said the UK's efforts were inadequate and that unlike France and the USA, it did not have enough vaccinations for its entire population.

In the Commons, Mr Blunkett said: "I don't believe there is a problem with people approaching their own practitioner for a smallpox vaccination.

"If there is a difficulty I will happily approach the Secretary of State for Health."

Downing Street says official government policy is not to vaccinate the wider public, and if there was an outbreak all those living nearby would be vaccinated.

Twelve regional centres have been established where some staff are in the process of being vaccinated.

'Wrong impression?'

But the government is not advising people to go to their GP and ask for the vaccine.

The implication seems to be that Mr Blunkett made the comment off the cuff in the Commons - and got it wrong.

The government is also obviously concerned about alarming the public.

In the US President George W Bush very publicly had the inoculation.

The leading government adviser, who did not want to be named, suggested that key figures such as Prime Minister Tony Blair and members of the Royal family may have been offered the vaccination.

But that remains unconfirmed by Downing Street or Buckingham Palace.