§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the division of responsibility for food and food safety between her Department other Government Departments and the Food Standards Agency. [278]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 25 June 2001]This Department retains the responsibilities for food of the former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which embrace all elements of the food chain from primary agricultural production to retailing and the protection of public health in relation to farm produce and to animal diseases transmissible to humans. The Department will work closely with other Departments to promote sustainable and diverse farming and food industries that work together to meet the needs of consumers. Food safety remains the responsibility of the Food Standards Agency.