HC Deb 10 December 1962 vol 669 cc10-1
23. Mr. Proudfoot

asked the Minister of Health what steps he takes to ensure that food is prepared and served in hygienic condition at transport and roadside cafés.

Mr. Braine

This is a local authority function. My right hon. Friend gives general guidance and advice.

Mr. Proudfoot

Can my right hon. Friend say what powers are available and if he is satisfied that they are being used correctly? Would not he consider introducing a code of cleanliness for health inspectors to work to?

Mr. Braine

The local authorities have powers under the Public Health Act, 1936, and the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, to enter these premises at all hours. As regards the second point, I do not think there is any reason to believe that these powers are not being exercised, but I would concede that where cafés are open 24 hours a day local authorities depend very much on immediate complaints from customers and that a proper standard of hygiene in cafés also depends on the co-operation of the consumer. I hope that wide publicity will be given to my hon. Friend's Question and the Answer. As regards the code, it is for local authorities to ensure hygienic conditions by carrying out the duties laid upon them. My right hon. Friend's part is to provide guidance and help through general circulars, advice in particular cases, visits by his officers and the issue of suitable educational material.

Mr. Snow

Is there not a difficulty about road-side cafés on the trunk roads where the exact location of the café might be a marginal difference between the Ministry of Transport and the local authority? Some of these road-side cafés are wholly deplorable.

Mr. Braine

I do not dissent from the latter remarks of the hon. Gentleman, but there is a duty upon him and upon those who use these cafés to bring anything that is obviously wrong to the attention of the authorities. Where such matters have been brought to the attention of my right hon. Friend he has acted at once and drawn the attention of the local authority to the matter.

Mr. Proudfoot

Does my right hon. Friend think that from many of these small local authorities through whose areas these roads run he would get a reply from the sanitary department if he rang it up in the middle of the night?