HL Deb 09 May 2001 vol 625 cc212-3WA
Baroness Mallalieu

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they will publish the report of the Inputs Task Force. [HL2116]

Baroness Hayman

The report has been published today. The task force found that across the board, UK farmers do not pay more for their inputs than their competitors in Europe, but competitive trade can be frustrated by a lack of transparency in the market, commercial arrangements and differing regulatory requirements for some inputs across EU member states. It also found that there was a wide range of efficiency of input use and substantial scope for improvement.

The report contains a number of recommendations for action by both government and industry to reduce input costs and optimise input use. The Government will consider these carefully and publish a full response as soon as possible.

The report is available in the House Libraries and on the MAFF website.