It has not proved possible to respond to the noble, Lord, Lord Hylton, in the time available before Prorogation.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) does not hold this information. The FSA cannot recommend or advocate to industry any particular laboratory for the analysis of meat products for the presence of horse DNA. The FSA can confirm however, that some industry testing has been undertaken outside of the United Kingdom.

Food contamination of this sort represents a serious breach of consumer trust. Food business operators are responsible for ensuring the food that they supply meets food law requirements.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) leads the Government response to contaminated food and the Department for Education has been in regular contact with the FSA as investigations have continued. The FSA provides advice to local authorities and publishes the results of industry testing. Where cases of pork DNA in halal meat have been identified, local authorities have worked with schools to advise consumers and withdraw products.

If schools have any concerns about their meat products, they should contact their caterers, suppliers or local authority for further information.

This Government has previously said how sorry it is that these events occurred, and has expressed deep regret for the pain and misery that many have suffered as a result, 10 January 2011, Official Report, column 33W. I would like to re-iterate those sentiments.

There are no plans to mark 2013 as the 30th anniversary of the first haemophiliac fatality attributed to contaminated NHS-supplied blood products. This Government has already said how sorry it is that this happened, and has expressed deep regret for the pain and misery that many have suffered as a result.

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the right hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), has had regular catch-up meetings with representatives from the devolved Administrations since 16 January to discuss the specific issue of horse and pig DNA found in meat products.

I had a telephone meeting with members of the devolved Administrations on 13 February, which the Secretary of State followed up on 15 February.

Representatives of the devolved Administrations were also present at the Agricultural Council on 25 February.

DEFRA and the Food Standards Agencies in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland meet regularly to discuss issues related to food labelling and provenance, to exchange information and to co-ordinate our work on common areas of interest. DEFRA, the FSA and devolved Administrations have had senior level contact since 16 January.

The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and its contracted food supplier cannot confirm how many prisoners may have received the contaminated halal beef pastry products from the batches that tested positive for traces of porcine DNA. There is no evidence that any of the halal beef pastry products other than in those batches tested were contaminated.

Following the Food Safety Authority of Ireland's announcement of the discovery of horse DNA traces within consumer beef products the MOJ instigated a product review through its primary supplier. This led to the testing of a small number of halal beef pastry products which were immediately quarantined. The initial result of these qualitative tests confirmed the presence of porcine DNA within some batch samples of halal beef pies, pasties and sausage rolls.

The MOJ, working with the National Offender Management Service, commissioned through its contracted supplier further testing of additional products to ascertain any further contamination. Any additional tests are to

ensure the complete integrity across the MOJ product range to enable it to meet the religious needs of all prisoners.

The MOJ only purchases halal food products from suppliers that are certified by halal certification authorities and in the case of the contaminated food the Halal Food Authority. Once aware of a potential risk of contamination in its supply chain, the MOJ responded rapidly and robustly by immediately quarantining the products identified and instructing its supplier to perform precautionary tests. The MOJ also instructed its contracted food supplier to stop supply of products from the sub-contractor responsible for supplying the halal products at issue and to remove those products from the supply chain to the Prison Service.

The current contracts for the provision of food to prisons began in October 2012. The first known halal beef products contaminated with pork were supplied to prisons in England and Wales in October 2012, with the last delivery made in January 2013. The MOJ was first made aware of the contamination on 18 January and the products were immediately quarantined. 95 prisons have received halal savoury products from the range of potentially contaminated products via the national food contract.

These products were produced in batches. However, it has not yet been confirmed how many batches were produced between the period October 2012 and January 2013 and of these which batches were contaminated and subsequently supplied into prisons.

Until this information is known, the MOJ cannot confirm the number of prison sites which may have been affected. The information available to the MOJ from our supplier will not determine which sites actually received contaminated products with complete certainty as the goods will have been consumed and the packaging discarded.

During its initial investigation of halal beef pastry products the MOJ quarantined beef pies, pasties and sausage rolls. Initial test results identified porcine DNA contamination in halal beef pies and pasties and it was later identified in sausage rolls. These were all quarantined immediately following the review and remained on quarantine until receipt and analysis of test results.

The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), has instructed that further random testing take place. 33 products were tested and three tested positive for turkey contamination, of the three positive tests, two were halal.

Once the results of the turkey-contamination were received by NOMS/MOJ, immediate action was taken to quarantine the products to prevent further usage within prisons.

Our supplier has given categorical assurance that the very low level of turkey contamination is from halal turkey and from an appropriately certificated halal processing plant.

Concurrently, NOMS/MOJ are carrying out independent testing on two minced beef products (one halal, one non-halal) to test for the presence of horsemeat following an alert by 3663 on 8 March. These products have already been quarantined and will not re-enter the supply chain. The test results are due in early April.

The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and its contracted food supplier cannot confirm how many prisoners may have received the contaminated halal beef pastry products from the batches that tested positive for traces of porcine DNA. There is no evidence that any of the halal beef pastry products other than in those batches tested were contaminated.

Following the Food Safety Authority of Ireland's announcement of the discovery of horse DNA traces within consumer beef products the MOJ instigated a product review through its primary supplier. This led to the testing of a small number of halal beef pastry products which were immediately quarantined. The initial result of these qualitative tests confirmed the presence of porcine DNA within some batch samples of halal beef pies, pasties and sausage rolls.

The MOJ, working with the National Offender Management Service, commissioned through its contracted supplier further testing of additional products to ascertain any further contamination. Any additional tests are to

ensure the complete integrity across the MOJ product range to enable it to meet the religious needs of all prisoners.

The MOJ only purchases halal food products from suppliers that are certified by halal certification authorities and in the case of the contaminated food the Halal Food Authority. Once aware of a potential risk of contamination in its supply chain, the MOJ responded rapidly and robustly by immediately quarantining the products identified and instructing its supplier to perform precautionary tests. The MOJ also instructed its contracted food supplier to stop supply of products from the sub-contractor responsible for supplying the halal products at issue and to remove those products from the supply chain to the Prison Service.

The current contracts for the provision of food to prisons began in October 2012. The first known halal beef products contaminated with pork were supplied to prisons in England and Wales in October 2012, with the last delivery made in January 2013. The MOJ was first made aware of the contamination on 18 January and the products were immediately quarantined. 95 prisons have received halal savoury products from the range of potentially contaminated products via the national food contract.

These products were produced in batches. However, it has not yet been confirmed how many batches were produced between the period October 2012 and January 2013 and of these which batches were contaminated and subsequently supplied into prisons.

Until this information is known, the MOJ cannot confirm the number of prison sites which may have been affected. The information available to the MOJ from our supplier will not determine which sites actually received contaminated products with complete certainty as the goods will have been consumed and the packaging discarded.

During its initial investigation of halal beef pastry products the MOJ quarantined beef pies, pasties and sausage rolls. Initial test results identified porcine DNA contamination in halal beef pies and pasties and it was later identified in sausage rolls. These were all quarantined immediately following the review and remained on quarantine until receipt and analysis of test results.

The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), has instructed that further random testing take place. 33 products were tested and three tested positive for turkey contamination, of the three positive tests, two were halal.

Once the results of the turkey-contamination were received by NOMS/MOJ, immediate action was taken to quarantine the products to prevent further usage within prisons.

Our supplier has given categorical assurance that the very low level of turkey contamination is from halal turkey and from an appropriately certificated halal processing plant.

Concurrently, NOMS/MOJ are carrying out independent testing on two minced beef products (one halal, one non-halal) to test for the presence of horsemeat following an alert by 3663 on 8 March. These products have already been quarantined and will not re-enter the supply chain. The test results are due in early April.

The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and its contracted food supplier cannot confirm how many prisoners may have received the contaminated halal beef pastry products from the batches that tested positive for traces of porcine DNA. There is no evidence that any of the halal beef pastry products other than in those batches tested were contaminated.

Following the Food Safety Authority of Ireland's announcement of the discovery of horse DNA traces within consumer beef products the MOJ instigated a product review through its primary supplier. This led to the testing of a small number of halal beef pastry products which were immediately quarantined. The initial result of these qualitative tests confirmed the presence of porcine DNA within some batch samples of halal beef pies, pasties and sausage rolls.

The MOJ, working with the National Offender Management Service, commissioned through its contracted supplier further testing of additional products to ascertain any further contamination. Any additional tests are to

ensure the complete integrity across the MOJ product range to enable it to meet the religious needs of all prisoners.

The MOJ only purchases halal food products from suppliers that are certified by halal certification authorities and in the case of the contaminated food the Halal Food Authority. Once aware of a potential risk of contamination in its supply chain, the MOJ responded rapidly and robustly by immediately quarantining the products identified and instructing its supplier to perform precautionary tests. The MOJ also instructed its contracted food supplier to stop supply of products from the sub-contractor responsible for supplying the halal products at issue and to remove those products from the supply chain to the Prison Service.

The current contracts for the provision of food to prisons began in October 2012. The first known halal beef products contaminated with pork were supplied to prisons in England and Wales in October 2012, with the last delivery made in January 2013. The MOJ was first made aware of the contamination on 18 January and the products were immediately quarantined. 95 prisons have received halal savoury products from the range of potentially contaminated products via the national food contract.

These products were produced in batches. However, it has not yet been confirmed how many batches were produced between the period October 2012 and January 2013 and of these which batches were contaminated and subsequently supplied into prisons.

Until this information is known, the MOJ cannot confirm the number of prison sites which may have been affected. The information available to the MOJ from our supplier will not determine which sites actually received contaminated products with complete certainty as the goods will have been consumed and the packaging discarded.

During its initial investigation of halal beef pastry products the MOJ quarantined beef pies, pasties and sausage rolls. Initial test results identified porcine DNA contamination in halal beef pies and pasties and it was later identified in sausage rolls. These were all quarantined immediately following the review and remained on quarantine until receipt and analysis of test results.

The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), has instructed that further random testing take place. 33 products were tested and three tested positive for turkey contamination, of the three positive tests, two were halal.

Once the results of the turkey-contamination were received by NOMS/MOJ, immediate action was taken to quarantine the products to prevent further usage within prisons.

Our supplier has given categorical assurance that the very low level of turkey contamination is from halal turkey and from an appropriately certificated halal processing plant.

Concurrently, NOMS/MOJ are carrying out independent testing on two minced beef products (one halal, one non-halal) to test for the presence of horsemeat following an alert by 3663 on 8 March. These products have already been quarantined and will not re-enter the supply chain. The test results are due in early April.

The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and its contracted food supplier cannot confirm how many prisoners may have received the contaminated halal beef pastry products from the batches that tested positive for traces of porcine DNA. There is no evidence that any of the halal beef pastry products other than in those batches tested were contaminated.

Following the Food Safety Authority of Ireland's announcement of the discovery of horse DNA traces within consumer beef products the MOJ instigated a product review through its primary supplier. This led to the testing of a small number of halal beef pastry products which were immediately quarantined. The initial result of these qualitative tests confirmed the presence of porcine DNA within some batch samples of halal beef pies, pasties and sausage rolls.

The MOJ, working with the National Offender Management Service, commissioned through its contracted supplier further testing of additional products to ascertain any further contamination. Any additional tests are to

ensure the complete integrity across the MOJ product range to enable it to meet the religious needs of all prisoners.

The MOJ only purchases halal food products from suppliers that are certified by halal certification authorities and in the case of the contaminated food the Halal Food Authority. Once aware of a potential risk of contamination in its supply chain, the MOJ responded rapidly and robustly by immediately quarantining the products identified and instructing its supplier to perform precautionary tests. The MOJ also instructed its contracted food supplier to stop supply of products from the sub-contractor responsible for supplying the halal products at issue and to remove those products from the supply chain to the Prison Service.

The current contracts for the provision of food to prisons began in October 2012. The first known halal beef products contaminated with pork were supplied to prisons in England and Wales in October 2012, with the last delivery made in January 2013. The MOJ was first made aware of the contamination on 18 January and the products were immediately quarantined. 95 prisons have received halal savoury products from the range of potentially contaminated products via the national food contract.

These products were produced in batches. However, it has not yet been confirmed how many batches were produced between the period October 2012 and January 2013 and of these which batches were contaminated and subsequently supplied into prisons.

Until this information is known, the MOJ cannot confirm the number of prison sites which may have been affected. The information available to the MOJ from our supplier will not determine which sites actually received contaminated products with complete certainty as the goods will have been consumed and the packaging discarded.

During its initial investigation of halal beef pastry products the MOJ quarantined beef pies, pasties and sausage rolls. Initial test results identified porcine DNA contamination in halal beef pies and pasties and it was later identified in sausage rolls. These were all quarantined immediately following the review and remained on quarantine until receipt and analysis of test results.

The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), has instructed that further random testing take place. 33 products were tested and three tested positive for turkey contamination, of the three positive tests, two were halal.

Once the results of the turkey-contamination were received by NOMS/MOJ, immediate action was taken to quarantine the products to prevent further usage within prisons.

Our supplier has given categorical assurance that the very low level of turkey contamination is from halal turkey and from an appropriately certificated halal processing plant.

Concurrently, NOMS/MOJ are carrying out independent testing on two minced beef products (one halal, one non-halal) to test for the presence of horsemeat following an alert by 3663 on 8 March. These products have already been quarantined and will not re-enter the supply chain. The test results are due in early April.

The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and its contracted food supplier cannot confirm how many prisoners may have received the contaminated halal beef pastry products from the batches that tested positive for traces of porcine DNA. There is no evidence that any of the halal beef pastry products other than in those batches tested were contaminated.

Following the Food Safety Authority of Ireland's announcement of the discovery of horse DNA traces within consumer beef products the MOJ instigated a product review through its primary supplier. This led to the testing of a small number of halal beef pastry products which were immediately quarantined. The initial result of these qualitative tests confirmed the presence of porcine DNA within some batch samples of halal beef pies, pasties and sausage rolls.

The MOJ, working with the National Offender Management Service, commissioned through its contracted supplier further testing of additional products to ascertain any further contamination. Any additional tests are to

ensure the complete integrity across the MOJ product range to enable it to meet the religious needs of all prisoners.

The MOJ only purchases halal food products from suppliers that are certified by halal certification authorities and in the case of the contaminated food the Halal Food Authority. Once aware of a potential risk of contamination in its supply chain, the MOJ responded rapidly and robustly by immediately quarantining the products identified and instructing its supplier to perform precautionary tests. The MOJ also instructed its contracted food supplier to stop supply of products from the sub-contractor responsible for supplying the halal products at issue and to remove those products from the supply chain to the Prison Service.

The current contracts for the provision of food to prisons began in October 2012. The first known halal beef products contaminated with pork were supplied to prisons in England and Wales in October 2012, with the last delivery made in January 2013. The MOJ was first made aware of the contamination on 18 January and the products were immediately quarantined. 95 prisons have received halal savoury products from the range of potentially contaminated products via the national food contract.

These products were produced in batches. However, it has not yet been confirmed how many batches were produced between the period October 2012 and January 2013 and of these which batches were contaminated and subsequently supplied into prisons.

Until this information is known, the MOJ cannot confirm the number of prison sites which may have been affected. The information available to the MOJ from our supplier will not determine which sites actually received contaminated products with complete certainty as the goods will have been consumed and the packaging discarded.

During its initial investigation of halal beef pastry products the MOJ quarantined beef pies, pasties and sausage rolls. Initial test results identified porcine DNA contamination in halal beef pies and pasties and it was later identified in sausage rolls. These were all quarantined immediately following the review and remained on quarantine until receipt and analysis of test results.

The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), has instructed that further random testing take place. 33 products were tested and three tested positive for turkey contamination, of the three positive tests, two were halal.

Once the results of the turkey-contamination were received by NOMS/MOJ, immediate action was taken to quarantine the products to prevent further usage within prisons.

Our supplier has given categorical assurance that the very low level of turkey contamination is from halal turkey and from an appropriately certificated halal processing plant.

Concurrently, NOMS/MOJ are carrying out independent testing on two minced beef products (one halal, one non-halal) to test for the presence of horsemeat following an alert by 3663 on 8 March. These products have already been quarantined and will not re-enter the supply chain. The test results are due in early April.