§ Mr. David StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what response the Government have made to the recommendations of the Pennington report. [3509]
§ Mr. DewarThe Government accept all the recommendations in the final Pennington Report. We are fully committed to introducing the measures which we believe will help strengthen existing food safety legislation.
Central to the Pennington Report are the recommendations to license butchers who are handling raw and cooked meat to ensure adequate separation. The Government are actively considering the detail of these proposals and will shortly seek views from health professionals, consumer organisations and the trade on issues such as the premises to be covered, the degree of physical separation and on timescale for implementation. Final decisions on all these matters will have as its overriding concern the protection of public health.
The Government will also promote the introduction of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles into the meat production chain, from slaughterhouse to butcher shop. This internationally recognised approach to identifying and controlling food hazards will secure improved levels of food safety in the longer term.
As Professor Pennington has recognised, many of the recommendations will require careful development to ensure that they are effective when introduced. At the same time we are fully aware of the need to have the measures in place quickly to strengthen food safety and restore public confidence, particularly given the recent new outbreaks of E.coli in Scotland.
Finally, the Government wish formally to record its appreciation of the work carried out by Professor Pennington and the members of the expert group. Our acceptance of all the Group's recommendations illustrates our commitment that the safety of public health will be of the highest priority.