§ 19. Mr. GroganTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on policy towards the horticultural sector. [185762]
§ Alun MichaelThe Government welcome the contribution of horticulture to the UK economy. It is worth some £2 billion at the farm gate and supports substantial downstream activity in packhouses, processing and the garden industry. We will continue to work with the industry through the Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy, by funding research and development and through the England Rural Development Programme.