HC Deb 04 May 1978 vol 949 cc268-9W
Mr. Wells

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table in the Official Report listing wholesale horticultural markets within 20 miles of central London showing the turnover in each of the last convenient period, the average rent per square foot of selling and storage areas, the sums spent on repairs and maintenance by the proprietors in that period, the names of the proprietors and the numbers of persons working in each on an average day.

Mr. Strang

Information on New Covent Garden Market is contained in reports of the Covent Garden Market Authority which my right hon. Friend, the Minister, presents before Parliament under Section 46 of the Covent Garden Market Act 1961 as amended, the latest information being as followsMarket turnover (1974–75) £116,438,000. Expenditure on maintenance, repairs and renewals:

  • Year ended 30th September 1976 £268,610
  • Six months ended 31st March 1977 £162,550

Average rents for trading space during aforementioned periods:

per sq. ft. per annum
Fruit and vegetables market £2.00
Flower market, main area £3.00
Flower market, perimeter area £2.10

We have no involvement in the operation or maintenance of the other wholesale horticultural markets within 20 miles of central London, but understand their respective managing authorities to be as follows:

  • Borough Market—Trustees of the Borough Market (Southwark).
  • Greenwich Market—Secretary of State for Defence acting as Trustee of Greenwich Hospital.
  • Spitalfields Market—Corporation of London.
  • Stratford Market—British Rail.
  • Western International Market—London Borough of Hounslow.