§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the categories, and the numbers within them, of institutions, for which he is responsible, for 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. JoplingCrown immunity from prosecution under food hygiene legislation and health and safety legislation applies to the following institutions for which I am responsible:
Category by major use Number Central departmental offices 13 Regional or local offices 153 Storage buildings 123 Research institutions and laboratories 44 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 colleagues, how best to deal with these circumstances.