§ Mrs. LiddellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases before Scottish courts have been dismissed by reason of a successful due diligence defence in relation to the Food Safety Act 1990. [28291]
§ Sir Hector MonroThis information is not held centrally.
§ Mrs. LiddellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what United Kingdom industry guides to good hygiene practice will be approved prior to the introduction of the New Food Safety (General Food104W Hygiene) Regulations to assist enforcement authorities in the application of the legislation. [28283]
§ Sir Hector MonroIn line with the EC food hygiene directive, UK Government Departments have encouraged the food industry to set up working groups to draft voluntary guides for different sectors of the industry in collaboration with enforcement and consumer interests. To date, 10 sectors of the UK food industry have indicated their willingness to prepare such guides. It is not possible to forecast how many guides will have been recognised by the time the regulations are expected to come into force. One guide—on catering—has already been subject to full consultation and is likely to be submitted for recognition shortly.
§ Mrs. LiddellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when legislation in Scotland will be brought into line with that in England and Wales in respect of the temperature control requirements for food. [28287]
§ Sir Hector MonroThere are no plans to align the present Scottish legislation on food temperature controls with that in England and Wales. It may, however, be necessary to amend the Scottish provisions when the European Community harmonises legislation in this area.
§ Mrs. LiddellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce legislation, in accordance with the requirements of the Food Safety Act 1990, in relation to the licensing by enforcement authorities of premises for the purpose of a food business. [28289]
§ Sir Hector MonroThere are no plans to amend the current legislation made under the Food Safety Act 1990 relating to the licensing of food premises.
§ Mrs. LiddellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many emergency prohibition notices and prohibition orders have been imposed in Scotland in respect of premises in terms of the Food Safety Act 1990 since the Act came into force. [28285]
§ Sir Hector MonroThe number of emergency prohibition notices or orders and prohibition orders that have been imposed in Scotland since the Food Safety Act 1990 came into force are as follows:
Year Emergency prohibition notices or orders Prohibition orders 1991 10 1 1992 13 1 1993 9 0 Information prior to 1991 is not held centrally and figures for 1994 are not yet available.
§ Mrs. LiddellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the proposed date for the introduction of the new Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations in Scotland. [28288]
§ Sir Hector MonroWe aim to introduce these regulations within the next few weeks.
§ Mrs. LiddellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons in Scotland have been prohibited from 105W managing a food business in terms of the Food Safety Act 1990 since the Act came into force. [28286]
§ Sir Hector MonroThis information is not held centrally.