§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if 314W he is satisfied with the performance and services provided by the Meat and Livestock Commission; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he has any plans to give extra financial aid to the Meat and Livestock Commission during 1980–81; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerWe believe that the Meat and Livestock Commission has a valuable contribution to make towards the efficiency of the meat and livestock industry.
The commission's general activities, such as livestock improvement, marketing services and meat promotion, are financed entirely out of the levy on slaughterings of livestock and income from fees and charges. The question of extra Government aid in 1980–81 does not, therefore, arise.
During the last eight months the commission has conducted a searching review of its levy-funded activities, other than meat promotion, and has proposed changes, including increasing fees for its services and the reduction of some activities, which would enable it to reduce its levy income by 20 per cent. in the coming year and by lesser amounts in the two succeeding years.
On 27 February we were informed by representatives of nine major producer and trade organisations that all but one of their organisations had been able to reach agreement with the commission on these proposals. I welcome this outcome which, as I have said, provides a sound and realistic basis for the commission's future work.