HL Deb 19 July 1972 vol 333 cc759-61

2.44 p.m.

BARONESS PHILLIPS

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will review the regulations which give exemption to Crown premises from the application of food legislation.

THE MINISTER or STATE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY (LORD ABERDARE)

My Lords, Section 122 of the Food and Drugs Act 1955 provides powers to apply the provisions of the Act and regulations made under it to the Crown. There has been no suggestion that the standard of food control in Crown premises generally is unsatisfactory. Arrangements already exist for hospital authorities to enlist the aid of public health departments in ensuring satisfactory standards of food hygiene.

BARONESS PHILLIPS

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. Is he aware that the Association of Public Health Inspectors have asked for this system to be changed, and would he not agree that it is undesirable for private premises to have mandatory regulations, whereas hospitals are permitted to bring in public health inspectors only if they so decide?

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, it is in fact a Report of a Working Party on food hygiene to which the noble Baroness is referring, and it has not yet been considered by the Association itself. We certainly take very seriously the recommendations in it. My right honourable friend has written to the Association of Public Health Inspectors. They have not yet approved the Report, but we are in close touch with them and will take any necessary action.

LORD DAVIES OF LEEK

My Lords, does this legislation apply to the possibilities of hygiene control? Is the noble Lord aware that mice are crawling around this Palace as arrogant as all-in wrestlers? And where there is food, will he try to do something to control these creatures, who clean their whiskers blatantly before one?

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, I was not aware of that. I hope they are not Welsh mice.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, would not the noble Lord agree that the regulations governing the provision of food in hospitals ought to be far more stringent for patients who are sick in hospital than for the population who are well?

LORD ABERDARE

Yes, my Lords. We take the standard of hygiene in hospitals very seriously indeed. There is a hospital memorandum on the subject, and we encourage all hospital authorities to work with the public health inspectors to make sure that the standards of hygiene are certainly no lower, and are preferably higher, that those in other public buildings.

LORD HAWKE

My Lords, how do restaurants in Royal Parks stand in this matter?

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, they enjoy Crown privilege also, but they are under the guidance of the Department of the Environment.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, in view of the fact that prevention is better than cure, can the noble Lord say how it has come about that there is this discrimination in favour of certain institutions?

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, this is a perfectly normal exclusion for Crown privilege. But at the same time, so far as hospitals are concerned, we encourage the hospital authorities to work under the same guidance and the same rules as other authorities.