§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the cost to the United Kingdom retail trade of the investment in capital equipment necessary to comply with the provisions of the European Community draft directive on quick frozen foods.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonI am not in a position to make such an estimate since, on the one hand, I do not have details of the number, age and type of retail cabinets currently in use in the United Kingdom and, on the other, the retail provisions of the draft directive has not yet been agreed. I am, however, aware that if the directive were adopted in its present form there could be significant capital costs for retailers who had to purchase equipment more powerful than commercial considerations would demand.