Regional Panels (Hansard, 18 December 1991)

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the members of each of his regional panels currently in existence; if he will give the remit of these panels and the criteria for membership; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Gummer
The membership of my five existing regional panels is as follows:
Eastern region
Chairman

Mr. R. C. Bloomfield

Members

Mr. P. Allenson

Mr. D. Barker

Mr. D. Black

Mr. A. K. Bowes

Mrs. R. Eady

Mr. R. F. Horrell

Mr. E. W. Faure-Walker

Mr. S. Hemington

Mr. R. H. Kerkham

Mr. B. E. Newton

Mr. R. Paynter

Mrs. M. Skinner

Mr. J. Taylor

Mr. M. Thomasin-Foster

Mr. R. J. Watts

192W
Midlands and Western
Chairman

Mr. H. Salway TD
Members
Mr. P. A. Atkinson

Mr. W. H. Bainbridge

Mr. B. E. Boot

Mr. C. Briscoe

Mrs. J. Davies

Mr. D. Harper

Mr. A. A. Hignett

The Hon. David Legh

Mr. A. D. Lewis

Mr. R. Marston

Mr. J. J. Molyneux

Mr. W. J. B. Taylor

Mr. M. E. Twidale

Northern Region
Chairman

Mr. A. Jackson

Members

Mr. W. D. Avery

Mr. C. A. F. Baker-Cresswell, OBE

Mrs. J. Bell

Mr. J. C. Cooke

Mr. J. H. Dixon

Mr. D. A. Howard

Mr. J. Howson

Mr. M. D. Pollard

Mr. S. P. W. Redgate

Mr. A. H. Sanderson

Mr. J. Sheard

Mr. A. P. Shirley

Mr. W. S. Towers

Mr. A. Watson

South Western Region
Chairman

Sir Peter Mills

Members

Mrs. R. Berry

Mr. J. M. Eustice

Mr. P. Fielden

Mr. R. Holland

Mr. R. A. Law

Mr. R. Lawton

Mrs. A. Petch

Mr. M. Retallick

Mr. D. Scott

Mr. G. Trehane

Mr. A. E. Webb

Mr. J. Whetman

Mr. H. B. Wright

South Eastern
Chairman

Mr. R. J. Cyster, OBE

Members

Mr. C. P. Boswell

Mr. D. R. A. Brazier

Mr. G. W. Butler

Mr. E. Humphrey

Mr. J. D. Jenkinson

Mr. R. Jones

Mr. P. Lowater

Mr. M. Lowry

Mr. D. G. L. Monnington

Mr. H. Oliver-Bellasis

Mr. A. E. Redsell

Mrs. R. Titterington

Mrs. S. Ward

The regional panels are non-statutory advisory bodies and provide an independent two-way communication link between my Department and the agricultural and food 193W industries and consumers. The panels can also be called upon to advise on matters in dispute between farmers and officials, for example on decisions on grant and subsidy schemes. Panel members act in an entirely independent capacity, not as the Ministry's agents.
The composition of the panels is designed to reflect the farming systems and food and farming industries in the various regions. Members include farmers, Iand owners, farm workers, a trade union official, representatives of the food industry and consumers.

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the nine regional panels he intends to appoint, to which he referred in his answer of 23 July 1991,Official Report, columns 455–56, to the hon. Member for Ipswich (Mr. Irvine), including the remit of the panels, the criteria of membership and the numbers of members who will be appointed; when he expects them to be in operation; and whether he will appoint people who are currently represented on his regional panels.

§ Mr. Gummer
The new regional panels will have the same remit as the old ones. They will provide an independent two-way communication link between my Department and the agricultural and food industries and consumers. They will also be available to advise on matters in dispute between farmers and officials, for example on decisions on grant and subsidy schemes.
The new panels will come into operation on 1 April 1992. Their composition and membership are currently under consideration.