HC Deb 30 November 2001 vol 375 cc1174-5W
Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on progress on the Organic Action Plan; what organisations she has met to discuss the Organic Action Plan; and if she will outline the(a) aims, (b) objectives and (c) targets set by the Government to meet the Organic Action Plan. [19721]

Mr. Morley

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced the Government's intention to set up an Action Plan for Organic Farming in her speech to the Green Alliance on 24 October 2001. On 26 November I was joined by the Environment Minister, the Rural Affairs Minister, and the Food and Farming Minister, Lord Whitty, for exploratory talks with representatives of the organic food and farming sector with a view to launching the Organic Action Plan next year.

Organisations involved in the discussions included the National Farmers Union, the Soil Association, Country Land and Business Association, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Environment Agency, English Nature, Sustain, Food and Drink Federation, British Retail Consortium, the Institute of Grocery Distribution and representatives from organic certification and research bodies. The industry's response to the Government's initiative was very positive, which I welcome.

The plan will look at how the organic sector will consolidate gains already made and will set out a strategy for its future direction. Work will begin once the independent Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food has reported. This will allow the Policy Commission's recommendations to be taken into consideration in drawing up the Action Plan's detailed aims and objectives.

Mrs. Ann Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what steps her Department is taking to encourage UK supermarket companies to increase the level of purchasing of domestically produced organic food and produce; [18200]

(2) what cross-departmental discussions she has had to encourage organic food consumption in (a) schools, (b) hospitals and (c) other departmentally-funded institutions. [18203]

Mr. Morley

On 24 October, in a speech to the Green Alliance, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced our intention to establish an action plan to set out the future direction of the organic food and farming sector. Work on the plan will begin when the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food has reported so that any recommendations the Commission might have can be taken on board. An important issue for the action plan will be how to maximise our farmers' and growers' share of the expanding market for organic produce. We hope that all sectors involved, including the major retailers, will work together in taking this initiative forward.

In addition the high-level Sustainable Procurement Group, also announced on 24 October, will investigate and make recommendations on how procurement officials on the Government estate can more fully support the Government's sustainable development objectives, including those on food.

Mrs. Ann Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will calculate(a) the area of fully organic UK farmland and (b) the number of companies licensed to produce organic foodstuffs. [18201]

Mr. Morley

As at June 2001, the area of fully organic land in the UK was 351,000 hectares. A further 271,000 hectares was in conversion. 3,876 farmers and 2,063 processors (including importers) were registered with the organic inspection bodies.

Mr. Heath

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the profitability of organic enterprises. [17932]

Mr. Morley

Indicative net margin figures for typical enterprises can be found in the booklet on conversion available from the Organic Conversion Information Service, which we fund. I will arrange for a copy to be sent to the hon. Gentleman.