§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they intend to take in response to the estimate that it will cost the Co-operative Movement collectively £250,000 a year, compared with the £50,000 its multiple competitors will have to pay, if the proposal in the draft bill for a Food Standards Agency to impose an annual levy of £90 on all food outlets becomes law. [HL937]
§ The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Donoughue)Public consultation on the Government's proposals for a levy on certain food premises ends on 24 March. We will announce how we intend to take forward the proposals once all the responses to consultation have been carefully considered.