HC Deb 26 February 2002 vol 380 cc1192-3W
Mr. Blizzard

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 11 February 2002,Official Report, column 90W, ref. 32897, if she will list the activities being pursued in the eastern region. [36480]

Mr. Morley

We do not hold centrally information on all the regional food chain supply and marketing initiatives carried out by Government and Government funded organisations in the eastern region. However, through 'Food From Britain' and the Countryside Agency, the Government have contributed to the funding of the Regional Food Group, 'Taste of Anglia'. These funds have been used to provide various business support and promotional activities including, "Meet the Buyer" events, the publication of regional food and drink guides, attendance at local, regional and national shows, the holding of workshops and seminars and the promotion of farmers markets.

A number of projects in the eastern region involving the processing and marketing of food have been awarded grants under the rural enterprise scheme and the processing and marketing grant scheme which form part of the England rural development programme. Producers and processors in the eastern region may also benefit from some of the national projects funded under the agricultural development scheme.