Early Day Motion calling for Support for Public Analysts

Willie Rennie, MP for Dunfermline & West Fife (Scottish Liberal Democrat) has sponsored an Early Day Motion in support of public analysts and the work we do The text of the Motion is:

EDM 238 SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC ANALYSTS 10.12.2008

Rennie, Willie

That this House notes the importance of public analysts as part of the wider framework of food quality checks; recognises the crucial role of public analysts in Ireland and Northern Ireland by enforcing the recall of all Irish-produced pork products after they identified that animal feed contaminated with the harmful toxins had infected pig products; notes with concern that 11 public analyst laboratories have closed in the last 13 years; is alarmed that there are currently only 24 public analyst laboratories left; is deeply concerned that poor funding means that the wider public health role of public analysts is in danger despite the increasing demand by consumers for better quality goods; and calls on the Government to conduct a review of arrangements for the funding of public analysts to ensure that food quality and safety is not compromised by spending restrictions.

To see the Early Day Motion follow this link http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=37236&SESSION=899)

Such motions, although formal motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons, are seldom debated, rather they are used to publicise views of individual MPs, drawing attention to specific events or campaigns and demonstrating the extent of parliamentary support.

The APA has been in discussions with the Food Standards Agency for nearly two years, to try to halt the decline in the service. Much time has been spent in meetings and review groups, but the resultant reports have disappeared without trace.

The FSA has recently proposed the 'dumbing down' of the profession, suggesting the removal of the statutory requirement that Public Analysts hold the MChemA (further information on this qualification is available on the Royal Society of Chemistry website: http://www.rsc.org/Education/Qualifications/MChemA/MChemAExam/index.asp)  It is also appears to be considering that the way forward might be to remove the requirement for Local Authorities to submit official samples to Public Analyst laboratories.

None of this will stop the continued decline in Local Authority sampling levels and the reduction in checks on the nation's food.

At a time when the public is being urged to 'read the labels' and so become more aware of what it is buying and eating, with the latest 'food scare' resulting from dioxin having been found in Irish pork and beef, the time has come for the Government to notice and take action at a national level.

S3M-3152 Liam McArthur: Public Analyst Laboratories

That the Parliament notes the importance of public analysts in the wider framework of food quality checks; recognises the crucial role played by public analysts in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in enforcing the recall of all Irish-produced pork products after they identified that animal feed contaminated with harmful toxins had infected pig products; notes with concern that 11 public analyst laboratories across the United Kingdom have closed in the last 13 years; is alarmed that there are currently only 24 public analyst laboratories left, of which four are in Scotland; is further concerned that the fate of Aberdeen city’s Public Analyst Laboratory hangs in the balance, with the distinct possibility that it will be closed and the services contracted out to Tayside Scientific Services in Dundee; is deeply concerned that the wider public health role of public analysts is in danger despite the increasing demand by consumers for better quality food, and calls on the Scottish Government to conduct a review of arrangements for the funding of public analysts to ensure that food quality and safety are not compromised by the pressure on local government budgets.

To see the Motion follow this link http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/motionsAndAmendments/motions.htm.