§ Mr. Geoffrey Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will introduce legislation to require premises intended for the preparation of food for sale to the public, such as restaurants, hotels and snack bars, to be approved by the health departments of local authorities before being permitted to 293W be used for the purpose intended and to be subject to annually renewable licences thereafter.
§ Mr. AlisonNo. Catering and other food premises are subject to the comprehensive requirements of the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations, 1960, which are designed to protect the consumer by ensuring that food is kept and handled under hygienic conditions and that the premises, equipment and facilities for keeping clean are satisfactory. Revised regulations were laid on 18th August to come into operation on 1st March next. In addition, Section 14 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, empowers local authorities to ask the courts to disqualify caterers who are convicted of a breach of the Food Hygiene Regulations. These provisions provide local authorities with adequate powers to control food hygiene standards in these premises.