§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will give the total number of reported cases of food poisoning in Wales per 1,000 of the population for the years 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988, together with the total for 1989 to the latest date currently available;
(2) if he will give the total number of reported cases of food poisoning in Wales per 1,000 of the population for the years 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and for 1989 up to the latest date currently available.
§ Mr. GristThe number of notifications to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) of food poisoning (together with cases as certained by other means) in 1989 totalled 2,670 up to 10 November.
The annual notification rates per 1,000 population for 1984 to 1988 were shown in the following table:
340W
Year Number 1984 0.35 1985 0.47 1986 0.50
Year Number 1987 0.59 1988 0.68
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what causes his Department has identified for the increase in incidents of food poisoning in Wales;
(2) what research he has commissioned into the causes of food poisoning in Wales and ways of reducing incidence in the future;
(3) what response he has made to the increase in the incidence of food poisoning in Wales; what steps he has taken to reduce future incidence; and if he will make a statement;
(4) whether he will make it his policy to make additional funds available for local authorities in Wales to strengthen their food inspection and environmental health teams.
§ Mr. GristAll parts of England and Wales have an increased incidence of reported food poisoning to the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre. A contributory factor must be an increased awareness of, and therefore increased reporting of, food-borne illness generally.
The Committee on Microbiological Safety of Food., chaired by Sir Mark Richmond, has been asked to establish whether any rise is linked to changes in agriculture and food production, food technology and distribution, retailing, catering and food handling in the home; and to recommend action where appropriate. After the first meeting, in April 1989, the committee indicated that it aimed to submit its first report as soon as possible.
The Government have recently announced a series of measures which together will make a significant contribution towards preventing and controlling the incidence of food poisoning.
The Food Safety Bill was published on 23 November. This is primarily intended to strengthen existing food law and provides improved powers to protect the consumer. In particular, for the first time it will be an offence to supply food that does not comply with food safety requirements. There will be tougher powers for enforcement authorities. In recognition of the additional burdens which will fall upon local authorities, it has been announced that resources totalling £30 million will be made available to local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales for 1991–92.
It is also proposed to amend the food hygiene regulations so as to introduce more stringent temperature controls on certain types of food and to extend these controls into distribution and retailing. These proposals have recently been the subject of a public consultation exercise.