§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the publication of advice from the Food Standards Agency which runs counter to Government policy. [118807]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 12 June 2003]The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been constituted as a non-ministerial department. Its right to publish its own advice, irrespective of the views of Government, is protected by the provisions of section 19 of the Food Standards Act 1999. There has been no occasion when Ministers have prevented the FSA, from publishing its advice or have altered the FSA's advice before publication. The FSA's board puts its open approach into practice by meeting, and discussing policy issues, in public.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what support the Food Standards Agency is offering to those involved in setting up local food chains or food links. [118893]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 12 June 2003]Support for the promotion of locally produced food is not the responsibility of the Food Standards Agency (FSA). However, the FSA is considering producing guidelines on the use of the term 'local' in food marketing.
The FSA is keen to promote access to safe and nutritious food at the local level. It is engaged with Local Authority Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services and the Local Government Association in the 'Food: the local vision' initiative to examine how local authorities can develop effective partnerships to promote and co-ordinate food and nutrition related action locally and develop good practice guidelines.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prosecutions have been initiated by the Food Standards Agency in each year since its establishment. [118045]
§ Ms BlearsInformation on the number of prosecutions initiated by the Food Standards Agency in each year since its establishment is shown in the table.
Year Number of prosecutions 2000–01 9 2001–02 12 2002–03 13 A further 14 cases are currently scheduled for court, while action against another 16 companies is currently being taken forward by prosecutors.