§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his answer of 11 January to the hon. Member for South Shields,Official Report, column 738, concerning the Food Safety Bill, if he will list the individual local authorities with which discussions were held with officials from his Ministry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerPursuant to my reply to the hon. Member for South Shields of 11 January (Official Report, column 738), there were no discussions held between officials and individual local authorities on the resource implications of the Food Safety Bill. The individual officers of local authorities who were present at meetings were representing one or other of the organisations listed in my reply, not their employers.