§ Mr. MartlewTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to forbid the sale of irradiated food in restaurants.
§ Mr. RyderThe sale of irradiated food in catering outlets presents different practical problems from sales in retail shops. I am in the process of examining the issues involved.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the procedures his Minister will go through up to the lifting of the ban on food irradiation and the timetable for these procedures; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RyderI have made clear that we need to obtain wider powers to enable us to provide for the control mechanism that we consider necessary for food irradiation. It will then be necessary to consult all the interested parties over the details of the control system and to introduce the necessary regulations to give effect to this. The timetable will depend on a number of factors, in particular the timing of the primary legislation.