§ Lord Hardy of Wathasked Her Majesty's Government:
What arrangements they have made concerning the establishment of the Food Standards Agency. [HL1793]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)The provisions establishing the Food Standards Agency under the Food Standards Act 1999 are due to come into force on 1 April. The Food Standards Agency will act as a non-ministerial department which will be accountable to Parliament through Health Ministers. As of 1 April, we shall have day-to-day responsibility for parliamentary business relating to food safety and standards matters, including questions from Peers. We shall also be responsible for dealing with relevant correspondence from Members of this House. Details of the Food Standards Agency's role and organisation will be placed in the Library.