§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the number of consumer pressure groups which have an interest in food and on how they are financed; and if the Government make a financial contribution to any of these groups.
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§ Mr. RyderBecause of our statutory requirement to consult on proposals for regulations under the Food Act 1984, I am aware of up to 100 organisations which broadly represent consumer interests and have an interest in food matters. I have no detailed information on how they are financed.
The Government wholly fund the National Consumer Council, the Welsh Consumer Council, the Scottish Consumer Council, the Consumers in the European Community Group and the headquarters organisations of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux and Citizens Advice Scotland. It also makes a contribution to the funding of the National Federation of Consumer Groups. All this funding is for consumer interests in general and is not specifically related to food issues.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider providing financial resources to recognised food consumer groups to permit them to carry out independent food testing similar to that carried out in the United States of America by the Natural Resources Defence Council.
§ Mr. RyderMy Ministry already carries out an extensive programme of food surveillance and I am satisfied that this, together with local authority enforcement of legislative requirements, is entirely adequate to protect the interests of the consumer.