§ 17. Hugh RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on Government policy towards horticulture. [94174]
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§ Alun MichaelAs my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Environment, stated at Oral Questions on 19 December last, the Government welcome the contribution of horticulture to the UK economy. It is worth some £2 billion at the farm gate and supports substantial downstream activity in packhouses, processing and the garden industry. We will continue to work with the industry through the Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy published on 12 December, by funding research and development and through the England Rural Development Programme.