Mr. Jacksonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to review the Meat and Livestock Commission; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. JoplingAs part of the Department's ongoing programme for reviewing the non-departmental public bodies, I arranged, with the agreement of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales, for a financial management survey of the Meat and Livestock Commission. This study, which was undertaken as an efficiency scrutiny, was started last December. The aim of the scrutiny was to examine the MLC with regard to the efficiency, economy, and effectiveness of its operations.
My right hon. Friends and I have now received the scrutineer's report and will be studying its recommendations which will be discussed in full with the Meat and Livestock Commission. I am arranging for copies of the report to be placed in the Library of the House and for it to be published.