asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what measures are currently being taken under European Community Council Regulations to check the levels of radiation contamination of food imported into the United Kingdom; and with what results.
European Council Regulation EEC No. 1707/86 of 30 May 1986 set out maximum permitted levels of radiocaesium for imports of food into the Community on an emergency basis following the Chernobyl nuclear accident. The arrangements have been extended to 31 October 1987 by Council Regulation EEC No. 624/87 pending further scientific evaluation.The regulation requires certification or testing of food imports from third countries. In the 10 months to March
| Table 1 | |||||
| Current expenditure by health authorities analysed by function | |||||
| 1985–86 | 1984–85 | ||||
| £ million | per cent. | £ million | per cent. | ||
| A. Patient care services | |||||
| i | Medical Staff Services | 901·9 | 9·39 | 820·0 | 8·98 |
| ii | Nursing Staff Services | 3,284·8 | 34·18 | 3,092·2 | 33·85 |
| iii | Other Direct treatment Services and Supplies | 864·8 | 9·00 | 810·2 | 8·87 |
| iv | Diagnostic Departments | 531·2 | 5·53 | 483·6 | 5·30 |
| V | Other Medical and Para Medical Services, Ambulance Services etc | 765·1 | 7·96 | 722·4 | 7·90 |
| Total | 6,347·8 | 66·06 | 5,928·4 | 64·90 | |
| B. General Services | |||||
| i | Unit Administration and Clerical Support Services | 575·0 | 5·98 | 542·7 | 5·94 |
| ii | Medical Records | 105·9 | 1·10 | 99·8 | 1·09 |
| iii | Training and Education | 53·3 | 0·55 | 50·5 | 0·55 |
| iv | Catering | 355·1 | 3·70 | 354·1 | 3·88 |
| V | Domestic/Cleaning | 404·0 | 4·20 | 417·6 | 4·57 |
| vi | Portering | 149·3 | 1·55 | 146·4 | 1·60 |
| vii | Laundry | 63·9 | 0·66 | 64·1 | 0·70 |
| Viii | Linen Services | 121·2 | 1·26 | 114·8 | 1·26 |
| ix | Transport | 46·9 | 0·49 | 44·7 | 0·49 |
| X | Engineering maintenance | 270·6 | 2·82 | 262·7 | 2·88 |
| xi | Energy and Utility Services | 319·9 | 3·33 | 329·4 | 3·61 |
| xii | Building Maintenance | 165·0 | 1·72 | 167·0 | 1·83 |
| xiii | Grounds and Gardens | 21·8 | 0·23 | 22·3 | 0·24 |
| xiv | General Estate Expenses | 173·0 | 1·80 | 164·4 | 1·80 |
| XV | Miscellaneous Services and Expenses | (0·4) | — | 3·7 | 0·04 |
| Total | 2,824·5 | 29·39 | 2,784·2 | 30·48 | |
| C. Other | |||||
| i | Headquarters Administration | 374·4 | 3·90 | 361·4 | 3·96 |
| ii | Other Services and Expenses | 62·7 | 0·65 | 60·8 | 0·66 |
a large number of samples have been tested. All but 18 were below the levels set out in the regulation. The 18 consignments concerned have been refused entry into the United Kingdom.I am placing a copy of the results of the monitoring in the Library.