HC Deb 25 June 1992 vol 210 c321W
Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to ensure that opportunities for children in residential care in Wales to share in cooking and catering are not unduly constrained by the terms of the Food Safety Act 1990 or regulations made consequent on that Act.

Mr. Gwilym Jones

Guidance issued under the Children Act 1989 (Vol. 4, paragraphs 1.139–1.142) on the operation of residential homes encourages the participation of children in cooking and catering activities in appropriate circumstances.

The Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1970, as amended, set out the controls necessary for the hygienic preparation of food. Environmental health departments advise on controls bearing in mind the nature of any food safety risk, including the type of food handled and the preparation involved. The person in charge of a home should ensure that all staff and, where appropriate, children in the home are aware of the requirements of the relevant legislation and the procedures to be followed, and that the latter are adopted.

Numbers of elderly people in Wales aged 65–74 accommodated in nursing homes, mental illness hospitals and units, mental handicap hospitals and units and residential homes for the elderly, as at 31 March 1991
Nursing homes Mental illness hospitals and units Mental handicap hospitals and units Registered homes for the elderly
Clwyd 231 65 4 297
Dyfed 152 56 1 239
Gwent 198 120 25 157
Gwynedd 215 14 29 143
Mid Glamorgan 67 173 43 253
Powys 28 43 21 96
South Glamorgan 93 98 23 178
West Glamorgan 231 61 5 98
Wales 1,215 630 151 1,461
Numbers of elderly people in Wales aged 75–84 accommodated in nursing homes, mental illness hospitals and units, mental handicap hospitals and units and residential homes for the elderly, as at 31 March 1991
Nursing homes Mental illness hospitals and units Mental handicap hospitals and units Registered homes for the elderly
Clwyd 699 57 7 1,121
Dyfed 323 87 1 801
Gwent 606 152 11 519
Gwynedd 304 21 23 671
Mid Glamorgan 146 238 15 812
Powys 104 59 13 273
South Glamorgan 275 140 17 776
West Glamorgan 717 103 3 420
Wales 3,174 857 90 5,393