§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations he is proposing to make to help ensure that the produce of 550 hectares of English vineyards and of English and Welsh agricultural land is exhibited at the festival of food and farming in Hyde park on 4–7 May;
(2) whether he will make a grant to the English Vineyards Association to cover the cost of the planning and organisation which the English Vineyards Association is incurring to enable vineyards to exhibit at the festival of food and farming to be held in Hyde park from 4 to 7 May.
§ Mr. RyderI have been asked to reply.
The festival of food and farming to be held in Hyde park from 4 to 7 May is being financed by sponsors in the industry, and by the many individual companies and organisations that have taken up exhibition space. It will be a fine opportunity for British producers to display the products of their enterprise to the general public. I am sure that it is right for such an event to rely on private initiative rather than on public subsidy for its success.