HC Deb 02 July 1997 vol 297 cc281-3
4. Mr. Ben Chapman

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many representations his Department has received on issues relating to food safety. [4930]

Dr. David Clark

The consultation period on a food safety Act and the James report closed on 20 June. I am delighted to say that, as of yesterday, more than 600 responses had been received. In addition, ministerial colleagues in other Departments and I have met many other organisations representing a wide cross-section of interests, including consumers, retailers and producers.

Mr. Chapman

I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. Does he agree that if such consultations had taken place earlier, under the previous Government, we might have avoided many of the expensive difficulties that resulted from their inactivity?

Dr. Clark

My hon. Friend makes a pertinent and real point. We have campaigned for many years to get a food standards agency. Indeed, I remember advancing that proposal about 10 years ago, but it was met with derision by the then Conservative Government.

The James report was commissioned by the Labour party. It has been widely recognised as a great step forward and I believe that it will do a great deal to restore public confidence in food in Britain.

Mr. Soames

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that the food and farming industries are among the most successful in this country? [Interruption.]

Madam Speaker

Order. We must have some order in the House. It is difficult to hear hon. Members who are speaking. I want order from now on.

Mr. Soames

Does the right hon. Gentleman further agree that it is extremely important that any proposed legislation emanating from his review does not overburden those extremely important and successful industries?

Dr. Clark

I fully accept that the food and farming industries in Britain have a good reputation. However, there have been a number of food incidents and a number of people have died as a result. It may be that some of those incidents could have been avoided if proper regulations had been in place. Certainly, a great deal of Exchequer money could have been saved if we had avoided the food scares and incidents.

The whole point of a food standards agency is to ensure not only that the British people have confidence in the food that they eat, but that they are able to have access to the best scientific advice on food issues.

5. Mr. Lawrie Quinn

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made in setting up the food standards agency. [4931]

Dr. David Clark

We have consulted on the report from Professor James. I propose to make a statement before the summer recess, and it will include a summary of the responses. We aim to produce a White Paper in the autumn and will consult further on a draft Bill thereafter.

Mr. Quinn

I thank my right hon. Friend for his answer. Although I am interested to hear of the progress on the timetable for the setting up of the food standards agency, will my right hon. Friend say something about any interim measures—[Interruption.]

Madam Speaker

Order. I have just called this House to order. Conversations are far too noisy. I can hear the hon. Gentlemen on the Bench behind the Member who is speaking. Settle down.

Mr. Quinn

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

What interim measures does my right hon. Friend propose before he can set in motion the timetable that he outlined? On behalf of the pensioners in my constituency of Scarborough and Whitby, I can say that we urgently want a food standards agency. We want to know what interim measures are proposed.

Dr. Clark

My hon. Friend has raised a serious point. Clearly, it will be some time before the food standards agency is established. We have worked together to ensure that a whole raft of proposals will guarantee that food safety is improved as much as possible. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has established a food standards and safety group to bring together areas central to food standards and food safety issues within his Department—all, we hope, under one roof and one chain of command. Accordingly, the Department of Health is revising its codes of practice on inspections of premises and on the enforcement of food hazard warnings. I assure the House that we are considering a number of proposals to ensure that interim arrangements are in place to guarantee that we can, with confidence, recommend British food to British people.

Mr. Hogg

May put it to the Chancellor of the Duchy that if we are to have a food standards agency it is extremely important that a Minister is able to explain its decisions to the House? It would be unacceptable if we failed to have an accountable Minister responsible for its decisions.

Dr. Clark

Of course that is the case. As the right hon. and learned Gentleman knows, because he spoke on agriculture at the Dispatch Box, there was much disquiet about the Ministry's handling of food issues. We recognise his substantive point: the food standards agency will ultimately be responsible to the House and we believe that that is better achieved through a Minister at the Department of Health.