§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Social Services in view of the comments of the North West Surrey Community Health Council, in its annual report for 1976–77 he will make a statement on the subject of the standards of hygiene in hospital kitchens in that area.
§ Mr. MoyleResponsibility for ensuring that the statutory requirements and codes of good practice relating to food hygiene are observed rests with individual health authorities. In general, recommendations contained in environmental health officers' reports involving only procedural matters or minor expenditure should be dealt with immediately, but where major expenditure is inevitable appropriate priorities have to be established. The South West Thames Regional Health Authority has asked area health authorities to report on those recommendations of environmental health officers which have not yet been implemented. In the North West Surrey District, work is expected to start early in 1978 to improve the kitchen shared by St. Peter's and Botleys Park Hospitals.