HL Deb 03 May 2001 vol 625 cc131-2WA
Lord Judd

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What arrangements they are making to ensure that farm workers and the agricultural section of the Transport and General Workers' Union are involved in the consultations on future policy for the countryside. [HL1982]

Lord Whitty

The National Secretary, Rural Agricultural and Allied Workers of the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) was a member of the Rural White Paper Sounding Board, an informal advisory forum chaired by Ministers which discussed key themes for the Rural White Paper.

The White Paper committed the Government to establishing a National Rural Sounding Board to provide rural people and organisations with an opportunity to put concerns direct to Ministers and keep Ministers fully informed about the state of the countryside. The Government have consulted a cross-section of rural organisations, people and interests, including the TGWU, about proposals for the board, which we expect to set up in the summer.