§ Sir Donald ThompsonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on how food chain issues are being addressed by Foresight. [21559]
§ Mr. Ian TaylorSeveral Foresight panels have interests in the food chain. In addition, a new Foresight group has been established to explore market and technology opportunities across the food chain. It will be chaired to David Sainsbury, chairman of J. Sainsbury plc. The new group includes industry leaders in food production, processing and retailing.
In broad terms, the group will be addressing issues which the food chain industries regard as critical to their future competitiveness. It will act in a cross-sectoral capacity, drawing together the interest of the wide range of Foresight panel sectors which impact on food chain businesses, such as food and drink, agriculture, retailing, manufacturing, and marine, for example.
The members of the Foresight food chain group are:
Member Position Company David Sainsbury Chairman J Sainsbury Mark Adams Deputy Chairman Geo Adams Gordon Edge Executive Chairman Generics Ltd Iain Ferguson Chairman Birds Eye Walls James Godfrey Farmer — Christopher Greig Chairman William Grant and Sons Guy McCracken Managing Director Food Division Marks and Spencer Sir David Naish President National Farmers Union Gulam Noon Chairman and Managing Director Noon Products John Shropshire Managing Director G's Marketing