asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in cooperation with other interested bodies, he will launch a health and hygiene campaign, with a view to giving the general public greater protection against the outbreak and spread of typhoid and other serious epidemics; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is sure that the Aberdeen outbreak has brought home to all concerned the importance of cleanliness in avoiding the spread of infection, and the chief medical officer wrote on 8th June to all medical officers of health recommending them to reinforce continuous food hygiene teaching to traders and the public. To help in this, posters were distributed to local health authorities and hospitals.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that his right hon. Friend is wrong in this respect, and does not he realise that thousands of people who are taking meals from certain restaurants would never dream of eating them if they knew the unhygienic conditions in which the meals had been cooked? Is it not about time that we reinforced the sanitary inspectorate for this purpose and appealed to proprietors, consumers and all who handle food, either directly or indirectly, to have a widespread campaign in Scotland to improve present standards of hygiene?

My right hon. Friend is well aware of this problem. The Scottish Food Hygiene Council considered it at its last meeting. The Council has proposals in preparation and expects to make recommendations after its next meeting.