§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what institutional arrangements his Department has for consulting consumers.
§ Mr. RyderConsumer committees for Great Britain and for England and Wales are established under the Agricultural Marketing Act 1958. Their role is to consider and report to Ministers on the effect on consumers of the operation of marketing schemes approved under the Act. Schemes currently apply to milk, potatoes and wool and are operated by the marketing boards.
In addition, there are Acts such as the Food Act 1984 which require Ministers to consult organisations representative of interests which might be substantially affected by proposed secondary legislation. Consumers are consulted in all appropriate cases.
Consumer organisations have, in addition, been fully involved in the extensive consultations on the review of Food Act 1984. Twenty-eight consumer organisations and 14 health organisations have been consulted.