§ 2. Sir J. Vaughan-Morganasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made by the Covent Garden Market Authority in its search for a new site for the market.
§ The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Christopher Soames)Last April the Authority commissioned a firm of consultants to study a number of sites in relation to the many factors involved. I understand that the Authority expects to receive the consultants' report within the next three or four weeks.
§ Sir J. Vaughan-MorganPresumably this refers to sites outside the Covent Garden area, but in view of the fact that the Act authorises the Authority only to establish a new market inside the Covent Garden area, will not some of this expenditure appear to be going to be abortive?
§ Mr. SoamesThis firm of consultants has surveyed a number of sites outside. 3 My right hon. Friend will remember that during the passage of the Bill through Parliament it was said that
… it is not the intention of the Minister of Agriculture to withhold his consent to the promotion of a Private Bill in Parliament by the Authority empowering it to build the Market elsewhere …"—[OFFICIAL REPORT, House of Lords, 13th July, 1961; Vol. 233, c, 281.]should this be considered to be the right answer.