§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of of State for Trade if he will name the British ships recently found to have unhygienic kitchens; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisI assume that the Question refers to recent Press reports regarding a survey carried out by the Environmental Health Officers' Association in 1974 and 1975 of standards of food hygiene on a number of British and foreign ships. The report on this survey is not yet complete but my Department has asked to see a copy when it is ready; I cannot, therefore, name ships.
United Kingdom shipowners are concerned to observe high standards of hygiene, and they are in fact co-operating with the Department of Health and Social Security and my Department in the preparation of a Code of Practice on the Hygiene of Food and Drinking Water Supplies on Passenger Ships. Standards for the accommodation, food and water provided for the crews of all United Kingdom foreign-going ships are laid down in regulations made by my Department.