§ Mr. RoyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he has taken to set up the review of food-related scientific services in Scotland, as set out in the White Paper on the Food Standards Agency. [41198]
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§ Mr. GalbraithAn Independent Group has now been appointed to undertake the Review of Food Related Scientific Services in Scotland. The Group will be chaired by Professor Morag Timbury, recently retired Head of the Central Public Health Laboratory in Colindale, London and former Professor of Virology in Glasgow, with the majority of members nominated by the main bodies with a direct interest in the scientific services. The Group will consider evidence and views from all interested parties and is due to report in the autumn.
It is important that local authorities have access to high qualify scientific support for food testing. The testing of food samples is an essential element of the food law enforcement and surveillance system which directly protects public health. This independent review of the existing scientific services, both microbiological and chemical, will ensure that in Scotland we will have in place an effective and efficient system to provide food authorities with the necessary scientific support to allow them to undertake their important public health role, both now and in the future.