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Written question asked by Clive Betts (Labour) on Monday, 16 March 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 18 March 2026. It was answered by Sharon Hodgson (Labour) on Monday, 23 March 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.


Food Standards Agency: Parliamentary Scrutiny

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Food Standards Agency is subject to an appropriate level of Parliamentary scrutiny.

Answer

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) was established by the Food Standards Act 1999 as a non-ministerial Government department. The FSA is accountable to the Westminster Parliament, the Senedd, and the Northern Ireland Assembly through health ministers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland respectively.

The FSA’s annual report and accounts are laid before the Westminster Parliament, the Senedd, and the Northern Ireland Assembly. The 2024/25 report is available at the following link:

https://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/media/document/Westminster%20Annual%20Report%20and%20Accounts%202024-25.pdf

The FSA is accountable to Parliament directly through select committees and regularly engages with them. The Chief Executive of the FSA recently gave oral evidence to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee in October 2025 and the Industry and Regulators Committee in January 2026.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
120763
Session
2024-26
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Food Standards Agency Parliamentary scrutiny
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk