HL Deb 20 May 1982 vol 430 cc801-2

3.13 p.m.

Baroness Sharples

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what they are doing to improve marketing and sales techniques in the agricultural industry so as to increase the sales of British produce in this country.

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, the Government provide substantial financial aid for promotional campaigns for British farm produce, and they are helping to fund a series of British Food Weeks which are designed to increase sales of British produce in leading stores. My department's advisory service provides advice to producers on all aspects of marketing. My right honourable friend appointed five marketing advisers to suggest ways in which British agriculture can improve its marketing. They have made many valuable recommendations and are continuing their important work. We hope shortly to announce plans for improved co-ordination of marketing at a national level.

Baroness Sharples

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that encouraging reply. I should like to press him a little further because I understand that the Central Co-ordinating Council was proposed about 15 months ago. Can my noble friend say when he thinks that that council will be set up?

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, it is perfectly true that discussions on this have been going on for some time. My right honourable friend was concerned to get the answer right rather than have a premature announcement, but I can tell my noble friend that the announcement about this will be made very shortly.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, is the noble Earl satisfied with the working of EEC Regulation 355 of 1977, which provides assistance to marketing and processing? Is the noble Earl aware—I am sure he is aware—that this regulation terminates at the end of this year? If it provides assistance of value, are Her Majesty's Government now pressing for a renewal and, if so, for how long?

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, that is being discussed and I cannot tell the noble Lord what the results will be. However, if I am in a position to let him know, I shall write to him.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, will the noble Earl say whether Her Majesty's Government regard this regulation as being of value?

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, it certainly has been of great value.

Lord Mackie of Benshie

My Lords, may I put a slightly simpler question to the Minister which he may understand better? Do we spend as much money on the promotion of agricultural products as the French do?

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, if I can give the noble Lord, Lord Mackie of Benshie, an answer which I think he would understand fairly easily, I think that the answer is in the negative.

Lord Campbell of Alloway

My Lords, are there any plans under consideration, in the context of this Question, to restore the cherry orchards so that we may have our own cherries for our own consumption?

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, the Question was primarily directed to what is being done to help the marketing of produce. That is rather different from a question on the future of cherry orchards. Certainly if cherries are produced it is important that they should be marketed properly and correctly, and I hope that they will be.