§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the categories, and the numbers within them, of institutions, for which he is responsible, in respect of which exemptions are claimed from (a) food hygiene legislation and (b) health and safety legislation on the grounds of Crown immunity; and if he will make it his policy to plan to remove the immunity for the relevant institutions.
§ Mr. LawsonCrown immunity from prosecution under food hygiene legislation and health and safety legislation applies to the following institutions/premises for which I am ministerially responsible:
Category Number Central departmental offices 64 Regional or local offices *1,475 Storage buildings 128 Factories 7 Training and recruitment establishments 1 * Approximate
688WThese figures include premises where Crown immunity for food hygiene legislation would apply but where food sales or preparation are not at present carried out.
The Treasury's policy on Crown immunity is to consider every case on its own merits. If there is evidence of inadequate standards in particular circumstances I shall consider, with colleagues, how best to deal with those circumstances.