Meat and Livestock Commission

HC Deb 17 July 1980 vol 988 cc650-1W

42. Mr. Peter Fraser

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the future of the Meat and Livestock Commission.

Mr. Peter Walker

We believe that the Meat and Livestock Commission has a valuable contribution to make towards the efficiency of the meat and livestock industry.

During the course of last year and the early part of this year the Commission carried out a thorough-going review of its levy-funded activities, other than meat promotion, and proposed a number of important changes leading to a reduced level of activities and a reduction in the levy income provided by the industry. These changes were accepted by the major industry organisations. I welcomed this outcome, which has provided a realistic basis for the Commission's future work.