§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that local authorities do not reduce levels of service under the Food Safety Act 1990 prior to the commencement of the Food Standards Agency's operation. [103297]
§ Yvette CooperDecisions on the provision of food law enforcement services are for local authorities in the light of local circumstances. Officials are involved in discussions with the local authorities' co-ordinating body on food and trading standards about the arrangements which will operate for the planning, monitoring and audit of local authority enforcement when the Food Standards Agency is established next year.
§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the expenditure per head of population for shire county local authorities on their public health functions under the Food Safety Act 1990 for the latest year for which figures are available. [103296]
§ Yvette CooperCounty councils do not provide public health services under the Food Safety Act 1990. Certain food law enforcement functions are the responsibility of County councils but information on such expenditure is not separately identifiable in the returns received centrally.
§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he gives to public analysts for setting sampling rates for samples taken for analysis under the Food Safety Act 1990. [103298]
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§ Yvette CooperThere is no central guidance on a specific level of sampling to public analysts or local authorities. Decisions on the provision of food law enforcement services are for local authorities in the light of local circumstances.