§ Lord Westburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have completed their consultations on the future of the Horticultural Development Council.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Trumpington)My right honourable friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales have now completed consultations with the council and with organisations representing those carrying on business or employed in the horticultural industry. The National Farmers' Union of England and Wales and of Scotland, The Farmers' Union of Wales, the Horticultural Trades Association, the Transport and General Workers' Union and the Horticultural Development Council itself are all in favour of the continuation of the Horticultural Development Council. My right honourable friends have therefore decided that it should continue, provided it is clear that it has the support of growers themselves. This will be tested by an independent poll to be taken in October of all growers registered with the council. Final decisions about the future of the Horticultural Development Council will be taken once the result of the poll is known, and parliamentary approval for the decisions will then be sought.