Mr. Mark Hughesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made in considering the Report of the Advisory Council for Agriculture and Horticulture on Agricultural Exports.
§ Mr. PeartSubstantial consideration of the recommendations in the report must await the comments of interested parties, which I have asked for by 27th August, but I should like to re-emphasise that I fully accept the basic recommendation for stronger export promotional activities built on the present British Agricultural Export Council. I have every confidence that there will be wide, spread support for this objective from the industries concerned and that means can, therefore, be found to raise adequate funds. I propose, when comments have been received on the report, to hold consultations to this end. Meanwhile I am pleased to announce that the British Overseas Trade Board has agreed, subject to parliamentary approval, to provide further interim financial support to the BAEC.