§ Laura MoffattTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills to ensure that sufficient numbers of environmental health officers are being trained to oversee food safety. [64533]
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§ Ms BlearsI have been asked to reply.
Food safety is the responsibility of the Food Standards Agency. I am advised by the agency that its board has expressed concern about the recruitment and retention problems being faced by local authorities. It requested officials to discuss the issues with other relevant stakeholders to look for ways to improve the situation and to help ensure continued provision of effective food law enforcement services. The matter is to be considered again in detail at the board's meeting on 11 July 2002.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to commission an audit of the uses of sheep and goat products in(a) food and (b) non-food products. [64112]
§ Ms BlearsI have been asked to reply.
I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that the board of the agency endorsed a report on BSE and sheep from a group of stakeholders at its meeting on 13 June in Armagh. It contained a recommendation that the agency, with other Government Departments, should commission a full audit of the uses of sheep and goat products in food and non-food products. The agency will now take forward its share of the work and approach the other Departments involved.