HC Deb 14 December 1999 vol 341 cc144-5
48. Mr. John Bercow (Buckingham)

If she will make a statement on the work of the ministerial group on food safety. [101267]

The President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mrs. Margaret Beckett)

The ministerial group has completed its programme of work overseeing the setting up of the Food Standards Agency.

The group has, therefore, been wound up, although the Government continue to maintain a close interest in all food safety issues.

Mr. Bercow

I am grateful to the President of the Council for that reply. As, most unusually, I shall have to be absent from business questions on Thursday, may I take the opportunity to wish her a merry Christmas and a happy new year?

To return as speedily as possible to normal service, does the ministerial group on food safety intend urgently to examine the safety, or otherwise, of imported French turkeys, especially in the light of media reports that their poultry feed may contain human and animal sewage, or do Ministers intend simply to imitate the potentially poisonous birds in question?

Mrs. Beckett

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his good wishes and return them. Business questions will definitely not be the same without him, but I am sure that normal service will be resumed in the new year.

With regard to the issue of the safety, or otherwise, of imported French turkeys, as I have said, the committee has been wound up, but the hon. Gentleman will know that, in effect, a shadow Food Standards Agency is in existence with officials from the relevant ministries. I will draw his observations to the attention of that group, but he will appreciate that it is not a matter for me any more.

Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich)

Will my right hon. Friend seriously consider the absurdity of the situation that, 20 years ago, this country did away with country of origin marking, which many of us felt was essential, and is now required to label only for British goods? I and many consumers would warmly welcome not only safety measures, but country of origin marking for all imported goods into the UK. If we have to face the spurious argument that safety is involved, is it not time that what was literally sauce for the goose is sauce for that particular gander?

Mrs. Beckett

Oh dear! I feel a range of horrible jokes coming on in the run-up to the Christmas season.

My hon. Friend makes an important point. She will know that, in general, the Government are sympathetic to clear and informative labelling. She will also know that that has been a matter of some controversy throughout the European Union, but I understand that, for a variety of reasons, including the events to which we have referred, those matters are being examined.