PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
School Meals (18 May 2016)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which bodies are responsible for maintaining food hygiene standards in state funded primary and secondary schools; and what steps he is taking to support those schools which are found to be in need of improvement in that area.

Asked by:
Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat)

Local authorities are responsible for food hygiene inspections of schools. Food hygiene legislation requires these premises to be registered as food businesses. The Food Standards Agency, which sets policy for and monitors enforcement of food safety legislation by local authorities, has advised that approximately 99% of educational establishments have satisfactory or better food hygiene standards.

Local authorities work with food businesses to make improvements in any premises that fail to meet satisfactory standards during inspections and may take a range of enforcement actions as considered appropriate in the circumstances of each case. The hon. Member or members of his constituency may contact the relevant local authority or the Food Standards Agency for detailed information about specific premises that may be of concern to him.

Answered by:
Jane Ellison (Conservative)
23 May 2016