§ Mr. Chapmanasked the Minister of Agrculture, Fisheries and Food if he is yet in a position to make a statement about the future of the Eggs Authority.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerI and my agricultural colleagues have now completed our review of the Eggs Authority, which has taken full account of the views of the interests concerned. We have concluded that the authority continues to have an important role to play in the industry's future.
524WWe believe that, in the circumstances of a free market such as prevails for eggs in the Community, effective sales promotion and market intelligence are essential to the success of the United Kingdom industry, and particularly of the smaller independent producers, and that this work can best be carried out by the authority, which has power to charge a statutory levy on all chicks placed. We also attach importance to the authority's role in providing a focus for the discussion of matters of concern to the United Kingdom industry as a whole, particularly bearing in mind the Commission's proposals for the establishment of an inter-professional body representing all sides of the egg industry in the Community. We are asking the authority to take full account of the views of its major contributors in determining its future policies and the Government will be looking for art increasingly active partnership between the main sectors of the industry and the authority.
Mr. K. J. Webb, who is a marketing specialist with wide experience of the food industry, has agreed to accept appointment as deputy chairman of the authority in succession to Mr. J. F. Phillips who has retired and Mrs. J. Graham succeeds Dame Elizabeth Ackroyd—who has also retired—as member with special responsibility for consumer interests.
In accordance with the Government's general policy, the authority will continue to be subject to review at regular intervals.