§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has had from individual local authorities or local authority associations about the recruitment of sufficient environmental health officers, with particular reference to those employed to enforce regulations governing,(a) food hygiene and (b) noise.
§ Mr. MacleanI am not aware of any recent representations. Local authority responsibilities for food hygiene and noise are taken into account, along with other responsibilities, in the local government finance settlement.
Additional resources have already been provided for new work arising from food safety legislation.