§ Mr. Cledwyn Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he has taken to implement the Report of the Working Party of the Association of Public Health Inspectors on Food Hygiene, "Towards Cleaner Food"; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephThis was a report made to the Association of Public Health Inspectors which, as indicated in my hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Chelsea (Mr. Worsley) on 3rd May—[Vol. 855, c.352.]—later discussed with my Department and reached agreement on the operation of Crown immunity in hospitals, a matter arising out of one of the working party's recommendations.
The association has not approached us about the rest of the report, but, as pointed out in my reply to the hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris) on 18th June, we have undertaken to consider adopting powers to close food premises in exceptional circumstances and will give consideration to the proposal to require the approval of the local authority to be obtained before food premises are opened when the Food and Drugs Act comes under review. These are both provisions that the report recommends.