§ Baroness Blatchasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have received the results of the Horticultural Development Council poll and the poll of mushroom growers.
704WA
§ The Earl of Strathmore and KinghorneYes. The results of the polls are as follows:
HDC POLL
RESPONSE TO QUESTION: ARE YOU IN FAVOUR OF RETAINING THE HDC FOR A FURTHER FIVE YEARS?
*Poll figures rounded to 1 decimal point In favour Against Spoiled forms Forms not returned Total registered October 89 Percentage of the voting who were in favour 1,103 994 158 1,157 3,412 52.6 Number of growers (32.3%) (29.1%) (4.6%) (33.9%) £ £ £ In value of levy terms 459,578 (45.2%) 259,642 (25.5%) 299,154 (29.4) — 63.9
*Poll figures rounded to 1 decimal point Sector In terms of grower numbers % In terms of levy value % For Against For Against Field Vegetables 51.4 48.6 61.1 38.9 Protected Crops 48.4 51.6 62.7 37.4 Hardy Nursery Stock 52.6 47.4 71.8 28.2 Soft Fruit 72.8 27.2 78.8 21.2 Bulbs and Outdoor Flowers 44.1 55.9 40.9 59.1 POLL OF MUSHROOM GROWERS
RESPONSE TO QUESTION: ARE YOU IN FAVOUR OF JOINING THE HDC?
*Poll figures rounded to 1 decimal point In favour Against Spoiled forms Forms not returned Total poll Percentage of the voting who were in favour Number of growers 88 (24.2%) 22 (6.1%) — 253 (69.7%) 363 80% Litres spawn purchased 1988 2,437,214 (66.3%) 531,118 (14.4%) — 709,871 (19.3%) — 82.1% The result of the poll is in favour of continuing the HDC, and all organisations representing producers and workers employed in the industry are also in favour. The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales have therefore decided to confirm the decision originally announced on 10th July 1989 in the other place. Arrangements will also be made to bring mushrooms within the scope of the operations of the council. This decision is subject to the approval of Parliament.