§ 14. Mr. Mylesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his policy on the setting up of a central co-ordinating council for agricultural marketing.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerI am convinced that it is in the United Kingdom's interest that the marketing of food and agricultural produce should be better co-ordinated and I am actively considering how this might best be achieved.
§ Mr. MylesI welcome my right hon. Friend's encouragement to agricultural marketing. I hope that very soon he will be able to approve the setting up of this council. I also welcome my right hon. Friend—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. We know what the hon. Member welcomes. We want his question.
§ Mr. MylesWill my right hon. Friend ensure that this body has enough teeth and encouragement from theGovernment so that we can sell milk to France, bacon to Denmark and bulbs to Holland, which we are already doing?
§ Mr. WalkerWe shall endeavour to increase the volume of these splendid exports that are at present taking place, but we are having talks not just with the representatives of the producers but, which is very important, with our processors, manufacturers and retailers so that our objective will certainly be to have an effective body which can both substantially improve our penetration of overseas markets and obtain a bigger share of our domestic market.
§ Mr. Teddy TaylorAre there fewer or more councils, commissions and committees sponsored or financed by the Minister's Department now than there were in May 1979?
§ Mr. WalkerAll of them are doing a fine job of work.