Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he intends to bring forward legislative proposals making it compulsory for restaurants and catering outlets to publicly display their food hygiene rating on their premises, websites and menus.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has responsibility for the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. Currently it is voluntary for food businesses in England to display their hygiene ratings. Display has been mandatory in Wales since November 2013 and in Northern Ireland since October 2016.

The FSA is exploring how a statutory scheme, including display of ratings on-line, could be delivered in England, aligned with their wider regulatory reform approach. The Government will consider this evidence carefully once it is available.