HC Deb 30 April 1956 vol 552 cc17-8
23. Dr. Broughton

asked the Minister of Health if he will introduce amending legislation in order to make compulsory the registration of catering premises.

The Minister of Health (Mr. R. H. Turton)

No, Sir.

Dr. Broughton

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when the Food and Drugs (Scotland) Bill was being considered in the Scottish Standing Committee last year the Secretary of State for Scotland accepted an Amendment to make compulsory the registration of catering premises? Can he say why there is this difference of opinion in the Government? Is it right that the law for Scotland should be better than the law for England and Wales?

Mr. Turton

The answer to the first part of the supplementary question is, "Yes, Sir". With regard to the second part, the position is that Parliament decided quite recently that for England a system of registering catering premises was not the right remedy and that the proper one was disqualification by a court. The hon. Member will find that in law there is frequently a difference in practice between England and Scotland, and he will also find that the practice in England is usually superior.

Dr. Summerskill

Will not the Minister agree that before disqualification takes place it is necessary to inspect the premises? Is it not a fact that most cases of food poisoning can be traced to catering establishments where the standards of catering and cleanliness are very low? Should there not be periodic inspection of those premises?

Mr. Turton

I do not think that the assumption which the right hon. Lady makes for the second part of her supplementary question is correct. With regard to the first part, before a court will convict a caterer there will undoubtedly always be evidence of the state of the premises and, therefore, inspection of the premises. It is far better for a caterer to lose his livelihood as the result of a decision of a court than as a result of the decision of a local authority.

Miss Herbison

Is the Minister aware that the better provision in the Scotland Act has nothing whatever to do with the difference between Scottish and English legislation?

Mr. Turton

I should not like to argue with the hon. Lady on the relative merits of Scotland and England.