§ Ms AthertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the economic impact of initiatives promoting local produce within the respective areas. [39410]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Department has not itself undertaken any assessment of the economic impact of initiatives promoting local produce. However, the Countryside Agency, which we grant-aid, is contributing to the funding of the New Economics Foundation's Plugging the Leaks programme. Among other things, the programme is piloting a tool which allows local groups to measure the economic impact of various activities including local food initiatives.
§ Ms AthertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what initiatives her Department is supporting to promote local produce in the south-west. [39411]
§ Mr. MorleyThrough Food from Britain and the Countryside Agency, the Government have contributed to the funding of the Regional Food Group, Taste of the West. Taste of the West 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. We have also provided funding for the National Association of Farmers' Markets which promotes the development of farmers' markets throughout the country.
In addition, the Department has awarded grant under the Agriculture Development Scheme, the Rural Enterprise Scheme and the LEADER+ initiative to a variety of projects that involve the promotion of local food and drink within the region. One example is the recent award under the third round of the Agriculture 939W Development Scheme to the South West Regional Food and Drink Group to support a pilot model for a regional food trade organisation.