New Food Agency

Will it ever be?

The Queen's speech at the opening of Parliament contained much of interest for Consumers but several disappointments.

Perhaps the greatest disappointment, and a move that is difficult to understand, is the omission of the Bill to set up the much heralded Food Standards Agency.

At the election the country was led to believe that its establishment was a top priority. Quite apart from our own well-being, there is the necessity to convince our Continental customers that UK food, beef in particular at the moment, is in safe, and impartial, hands.

Government spokespeople have said that, of course, it has not disappeared. It will be subjected to pre-legislative scrutiny. No doubt it will, but there will be no time put aside to debate it in this session of Parliament and, who knows, some other matter of more significance to the Government may well arise to prevent its appearance in the next, and then it really will have been lost.

The Freedom of Information Bill also seems to have been pushed to the bottom of the agenda. Pre-legislative scrutiny in both Houses of Parliament is promised, but no Bill this session. Promises, promises are fine, but it is worrying that two items of pending legislation which will safeguard citizens in two important areas, food and information, have failed to make the grade.

John Brown

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