§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) where the principal functions of the agriculture development division of Food From Britain will be allocated in the future;
(2) what funding and staffing will be made available to a successor to the agricultural development division; and in which areas and for what projects those funds will be directed.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe division is being closed down as a result of the refocusing of FFB on exports following the Stevenson report. The functions it formerly carried out will be discontinued, apart from remaining work on the administration of co-operation grants which will transfer to Agriculture Departments. I am, however, continuing to work closely with the agriculture and food industries to address the needs for improvement of marketing on the domestic market.