§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley of 2 May,Official Report, column 100, if he has now given consideration to the report of a survey of microbiological quality of airline meals to three London boroughs; and if he will now make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanThe survey by the three local authorities surrounding Heathrow was carried out between 1984 and 1986. The results are of concern to the Government and we are co-operating with both the airline catering industry and the appropriate environmental health departments to draw up codes of practice relevant to the operation of the airline caterers. These codes should incorporate all the best features of the present European and international guidelines as well as the Department's guidelines on cook-chill and frozen catering systems. We recognise that there will need to be detailed discussion between the interested parties, but we would expect the new codes of practice to be published in the spring of 1990. We will then consider whether any further measures are necessary to safeguard the public from food poisoning while flying on British-controlled aircraft. In our review of the Food Act, we will also consider carefully any revision of powers. I am advised that the food hygiene regulations apply to airline meals on any British-controlled aircraft and under certain circumstances the Air Navigation Order 1965/1643 article 47 could be evoked.