§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the categories, and the numbers within them, of institutions, for which he is responsible, in respect of which exemptions are claimed from (a) food hygiene legislation and (b) health and safety legislation on the grounds of Crown immunity; and if he will make it his policy to plan to remove the immunity for the relevant institutions.
§ Mr. ButcherCrown immunity from prosecution under food hygiene legislation and health and safety legislation applies to the following establishments —premises for which my right hon. Friend is responsible.
Category Number Central departmental offices 24 Regional or local offices 140 Storage buildings 26 Research establishments and laboratories 9 These figures include premises where Crown immunity for food hygiene legislation would apply, but where food sales or preparation are not at present carried out.
Our policy on Crown immunity is to consider every case on its merits. If we have evidence of inadequate standards in particular circumstances I shall consider, with 624W colleagues, how best to deal with these circumstances. This may, as in the case of hospital catering, lead to a reappraisal of Crown immunity.