HL Deb 09 February 1995 vol 561 c15WA
Lord Gallacher

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether it is proposed to retain a member representing the interests of consumers on the Meat and Livestock Commission and, if so, what will be the future consumer point of contact for such member in view of the decision by Her Majesty's Government's Agricultural Departments to remove the statutory requirement for a Consumers' Committee.

The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Earl Howe)

A member of the Meat and Livestock Commission is appointed from a consumer background and we have no plans to change that current arrangement. The Consumers' Committee is the sole remaining statutory committee of the three set up by the Agriculture Act in 1967. The Meat and Livestock Commission may continue with a non-statutory consumers' committee if it so wishes but we believe that the MLC itself is best equipped to consult, and take account of, consumer interests.