Food Standards Agency

HC Deb 24 January 2001 vol 361 cc598-9W

Mr. Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the areas of policymaking for which the Food Standards Agency is responsible and those areas of policymaking for which his Department is responsible. [144122]

Ms Stuart

Under Section 6 of the Food Standards Act 1999, the Food Standards Agency is responsible for developing policies relating to matters connected with food safety or other interests of consumers in relation to food. The Department is responsible for improving and protecting the health and social well being of the people of England, tackling the causes of ill-health and modernising the National Health Service and personal social services.

In certain subject areas, such as nutrition, the two Departments have a shared interest. Details of the relative responsibilities of the two Departments in such areas are set out in a concordat, copies of which have been placed in the Library.