§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) on how many occasions in the last year his senior civil servants, at or above the grade of assistant secretary in the Ministry, have met representatives of(a) the Consumers Association, (b) the National Consumer Council, (c) the Consumers in Europe Group, (d) the Vegetarian Society, (e) the Food Commission, (f) the National Food Alliance, (g) the National Federation of Women's Institutes, (h) the British Medical Association, (i) the National Federation for Coronary Heart Disease Prevention, (j) the British Heart Foundation, (k) the National Farmers Union, (l) the Food and Drink Federation, (m) the National Dairy Council, (n) the Retail Consortium, (o) the Confederation of British Industry, (p) the Institute of Grocery Distribution, (q) the Country Landowners Association, (r) the Advertising Association, (s) the Chemical Industry Association, (t) the British Agrochemical Association, (u) the Infant and Dietetic Foods Association, (v) the British Cake, Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionary Alliance and (w) the British Soft Drinks Association; [42136]
(2) on how many occasions in the last year ministerial colleagues in the Ministry have met with representatives of (a) the Consumers Association, (b) the National Consumer Council, (c) the Consumers in Europe Group, 874W (d) the Vegetarian Society, (e) the Food Commission, (f) the National Food Alliance, (g) the National Federation of Women's Institutes, (h) the British Medical Association, (i) the National Federation for Coronary Heart Disease Prevention, (j) the British Heart Foundation, (k) the National Farmers Union, (l) the Food and Drink Federation, (m) the National Dairy Council, (n) the Retail Consortium, (o) the Confederation of British Industry, (p) the Institute of Grocery Distribution, (q) the Country Landowners Association, (r) the Advertising Association, (s) the Chemical Industry Association, (t) the British Agrochemical Association, (u) the Infant and Dietetic Foods Association, (v) the British Cake, Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionary Alliance and (w) the British Soft Drinks Association; [42122]
(3) on how many occasions in the last year he or his predecessor have met with representatives of (a) the Consumers Association, (b) the National Consumer Council, (c) Consumers in Europe Group, (d) the Vegetarian Society, (e) the Food Commission, (f) the National Food Alliance, (g) the National Federation of Women's Institutes, (h) the British Medical Association, (i) the National Federation for Coronary Heart Disease Prevention, (j) the British Heart Foundation, (k) the National Farmers Union, (l) the Food and Drink Federation, (m) the National Dairy Council, (n) the Retail Consortium, (o) the Confederation of British Industry, (p) the Institute of Grocery Distribution, (q) the Country Landowners' Association, (r) the Advertising Association, (s) the Chemical Industry Association, (t) the British Agrochemical Association, (u) the Infant and Dietetic Foods Association, (v) the British Cake, Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionary Alliance and (w) the British Soft Drinks Association; [42123]
(4) on how many occasions in the last 12 months (a) the Minister or his predecessor, (b) his junior ministerial colleagues in the Ministry and (c) senior civil servants, at or above the grade of assistant secretary in the Ministry, met representatives of interest parties in the dairy fats and margarine industries; and if he will list these and the companies they represented; [42126]
(5) how many times (a) the Minister of his predecessor, (b) his junior ministerial colleagues in the Ministry and (c) senior civil servants at or above the grade of Assistant Secretary in the Ministry, have met food and drink manufactures, retailers and other food industry trade associations in the last 12 months; and if he will list these meetings and the business they represented. [42127]
§ Mr. Douglas HoggI and my ministerial colleagues, and senior officials in my department, meet regularly with most of the trade, industry and consumers organisations referred to, though contacts with health interests are primarily a matter for colleagues in the Department of Health. Details on all the meetings and the interests represented could only be provided at disproportionate cost.