HC Deb 19 April 2002 vol 383 cc1238-40W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Food Standards Agency is taking to tackle the food hygiene knowledge gap across the population. [49070]

Yvette Cooper

A key element in the Food Standard's Agency's target to reduce UK foodborne disease by 20 per cent by 2006 is a nationwide food hygiene campaign, launched on 11 February 2002, to help improve standards of food hygiene in catering premises and in the domestic setting. The campaign, which will have a five year duration, is aimed initially at the catering industry and will subsequently broaden out to include the general public.

The Agency is also actively involved in promoting food hygiene with teachers, school children and students. The Agency and a consortium of other bodies has been involved in the development of a new web based food hygiene education package for 14–24 year olds (www.Good2Eat.info) which was launched on 15 April and has benefited from European Union financing (as part of a Europe-wide campaign on food safety). The Food Standards Agency also houses the website for two other food hygiene teaching resources, originally developed by the Health Education Authority: "Aliens in Our Food"—aimed at children at secondary schools, and "Safe T and the H Squad"—aimed at children in junior schools.

A stakeholder workshop will be held on 7 May to consider the current level of knowledge about foodborne disease and hygiene in the home, to review current or recent Agency work and to identify any gaps in research or surveillance. The workshop will also provide an opportunity to consider how hygiene messages can be effectively targeted towards consumers.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the new Food Standards Agency-specific conference framework, referred to on page 41 of the 2001 report of the Food Standards Agency, was introduced by the summer of 2001. [49216]

Jacqui Smith

A competence framework specific to the Food Standards Agency was introduced in October 2001. This reflects the Agency's values and way of working.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the tailored management development programme of the Food Standards Agency referred to on page 41 of the 2001 report of the Food Standards Agency. [49215]

Yvette Cooper

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) management scheme, which was launched in October 2001, is a major part of the Agency's general training and development programme. It has been prepared to help equip all managers in the FSA with the relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours required to support the Agency's way of working and its core values.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the establishment of the baseline, referred to on page 41 of the 2001 report of the Food Standards Agency, in the context of the first staff survey conducted by the Agency. [49231]

Yvette Cooper

The first Food Standards Agency staff attitude survey was carried out in October 2000. The results were used as a baseline for comparison with the 2001 staff attitude survey, which took place at the end of 2001.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Service Delivery Agreement target to develop and implement a cost-effective strategy to reduce the incidence of food-borne illness in humans has been met. [49078]

Yvette Cooper

Yes. The strategy was agreed by the Food Standards Agency's board at the public board meeting held on 9 May 2001 and has been published on the Agency's website. Six monthly updates on progress are presented to the board and these papers are also published on the Agency's website.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Service Delivery Agreement target of the Food Standards Agency to contribute to the renegotiation of the European Meat Hygiene Directive so as better to protect public health and produce a more efficient enforcement system has been met. [49249]

Yvette Cooper

The European Meat Hygiene Directive is being consolidated into four new European Union Food Hygiene Regulations. The Food Standards Agency has contributed to the negotiations that have taken place to date on the proposals and also on a Commission decision, agreed last April, which requires the introduction of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) based controls in licensed meat plants. It is considered that the introduction of HACCP based controls will provide better protection for public health. The Commission, having withdrawn earlier proposals on official controls, is expected to publish new proposals shortly and the Agency will take part in the subsequent negotiations with a view to achieving a legislative base for a more efficient enforcement system.