§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Prime Minister if she will take steps to ensure that all those who are invited to join the expert group set up to examine food-related issues have no commercial interests in the food industry.
§ The Prime MinisterOn 14 February at column180 my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced the setting-up of an expert committee on the microbiological safety of food. The committee's membership and terms of reference and method of working are under consideration and will be announced shortly.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Prime Minister (1) if she will require the expert group, set up to examine food-related issues, to make recommendations on the suitability of cook-chill catering within hospitals;
(2) if she will take steps to suspend the further introduction of cook-chill catering in hospitals until the expert group, set up to examine food-related issues, have had the opportunity to examine the incidence of listeria in pre-cooked, refrigerated foods.
§ The Prime MinisterIn 1980 the Department of Health issued guidelines on cook-chill catering in the National 479W Health Service and elsewhere. We remain satisfied that provided these guidelines are followed food produced by this system is safe. The expert committee on microbiological safety of food will, of course, be free to examine any aspect of microbiological food safety.