§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his oral answer of 19 February 1998,Official Report, column 1174, what urgent diary commitments obliged the Minister of State to cancel his attendance at the Hortex Exhibition; when the Minister informed the organisers of his decision to withdraw; and for what reasons no representative from his Department substituted on his behalf. [31916]
Dr. John Cunningham[holding answer 27 February 1998]: Hortex were advised well in advance that my hon. Friend would be unable to attend their exhibition on 17 February. A MAFF official was sent on his behalf and gave a presentation.
On 17 February, my hon. Friend visited an abattoir in Uttoxeter, an upland farm in the Derbyshire/Staffordshire area, a large supermarket in Stoke to present a "Golden Checkout Operator" award and then held a liaison meeting with representatives of:
- producer groups including the Country Landowners' Association, the National Farmers' Union, Peak District Beef and Lamb;
- consumers;
- rural business;
- banking;
- the Transport and General Workers' Union.
My hon. Friend regrets that in the burly bury of oral questions on 19 February, he referred only to diary commitments in London. He did return to London later on 17 February to carry out his duties in the House.
My hon. Friend, and those he met, found the whole day a very useful opportunity to discuss a wide range of opinions on farming, food and rural issues.