§ 43. Dr. Broughtonasked the Minister of Education if she will circularise local education authorities to encourage persons engaged in the preparation of food 565 for school meals to take a suitable course of instruction in personal and kitchen hygiene in order to reduce the incidence of food poisoning in school canteens.
§ Miss HorsbrughI hope shortly to issue a memorandum to authorities on the prevention of food poisoning in school canteens. Instruction in personal and kitchen hygiene is already included in the training courses which local education authorities are encouraged to arrange for staff employed in the school meals service.
§ Dr. BroughtonIs the right hon. Lady aware that since I drew attention to the unhygienic conditions prevailing in a school canteen in my constituency—and I thank her for the prompt action taken in that case—the most recently published report of the Ministry of Health states that there were no fewer than 45 outbreaks of food poisoning in school canteens in England and Wales in 1951? Does the Minister agree that she should stress on local education authorities the urgent need for maintaining a high standard of cleanliness in school canteens?
§ Miss HorsbrughI thoroughly agree with the hon. Gentleman that we should stress that need, and I am trying to do so. The publication of the memorandum will stress it again, and, as I have said, instruction is being given in personal and kitchen hygiene.