A vital list of outlets supplied by butchers John M Barr & Son was held back by the health authorities during an E-coli epidemic, because of fears it was incomplete, a fatal accident inquiry into the deaths of 21 people was told yesterday.

There was a public outcry in November 1996, that the list, which was not made public until six days after the outbreak, was not issued sooner so people who may have bought contaminated meats from the outlets and still had them in their refrigerators, would be aware of the danger.

The inquiry also heard evidence of more confusion surrounding key decisions on combating the spread of the deadly food bacteria in the early part of the outbreak.

Mr Stephen Rooke, Scottish Office chief food and dairy officer, told procurator-fiscal Frank Crowe the list of outlets supplied by the Wishaw butcher was initially kept confidential because officials feared it was inaccurate.

He said the lack of complete information prevented the Scottish Office from putting pressure on North Lanarkshire Council to make the list public.

He said: ''We were in their hands. It was their decision, given the confusion and incompleteness.''

Mr Rooke said Forth Valley Health Board had already taken a decision to issue a food hazard warning, but he questioned minutes from the Lanarkshire Health Board-led outbreak control team, on November 26, which suggested he would organise local publicity.

The official, who is also a member of the Pennington Group which carried out its own investigations into the implications of the outbreak, said he ran through all the options in relation to issuing a warning. He said this would involve local publicity, including notices in local shops and asking shop owners to remove suspect products.

Earlier, the inquiry heard from Lanarkshire Health Board's then public health consultant, Dr Syed Ahmed, and North Lanarkshire head of environmental health public protection, Mr Graham Bryceland. Both said they agreed with a ''second draft'' of the hazard notice.

Mr Rooke said he understood his task was to notify local authorities throughout Scotland, for information purposes.

A food hazard notice was not issued until November 27.

Cross-examined by Mr Paul Santoni, representing the relatives of one of the victims, Mr Rooke said that even with hindsight he could not question the timing of the publication and circulation of the list of outlets.

He cited the absence of microbiology and epidemiology information, but added that he believed in the importance of providing accurate information to allow the public to make its own decisions.

The inquiry continues.

q Mr John Barr, 51, revealed at his home in Overtown, Wishaw, yesterday, that he had paid back more than 100 members of the business's Christmas Club savings scheme.

The shop closed a month ago after cracks began appearing in the walls and tests revealed that subsidence, thought to have been caused by old mine workings, was to blame.

Mr Barr said: ''There were 117 members of the Christmas Club. I have paid back all money due to 113 of them.

The others live outwith the Wishaw area, and can be sure their money will be returned.''