---

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the (a) annual cost to her Department and (b) value of the assets of (i) Food from Britain, (ii) Horticulture Research International, (iii) the Meat and Livestock Commission and (iv) the Sea Fish Industry Authority; if she will make a statement in each case on the reasons for each body being in the public sector; and if she will make a statement. [105083] Mr. Morley: The annual cost to Defra of each of the bodies specified and the value of their assets for 2001-02 are set out in the following table: £ million _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Non-departmental public body (NDPB) Annual cost to Defra 2001-02 Value of assets 2001-02 Food From Britain (FFB) 15.483 90,998 Horticulture Research International(HRI) 213.643 43.568 Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC) 3287,000 5.9 Sea Fish Industry Authority (SFIA) 4270,000 4.937 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 This excludes foot and mouth recovery funds of £2.5 million granted to FFB for 2001-02. 2 Comprises £13.493 million R&D income and related payments and c £0.150 million running costs of Defra sponsorship unit. 3 Comprises £232,000 Commissioners costs and c £.055 million running costs of Defra sponsorship unit. 4 Comprises board members salaries, NI contributions and Defra sponsorship costs. Food From Britain Food From Britain was set up in 1983 under the Agricultural Marketing Act to improve the marketing of food and drink produced or processed in the United Kingdom. In 1993 its remit was changed to focus on promoting food and drink exports and speciality foods. The most recent review of its functions recommended that it should be retained as a public body with the existing remit. Horticulture Research International Following a Quinquennial Review in 2002 the Government announced on 20 January 2003 that they broadly accepted the review team's recommendations that HRI should cease to be a NDPB and should be transferred to new owners in the private sector. Detailed discussions are currently under way to establish whether scenarios recommended by the review team are achievable and affordable, and whether any further Government investment is necessary. Subject to satisfactory negotiations, the aim is to have in place the arrangements for HRI's future by 1 April 2004. Meat and Livestock Commission The MLC is a public sector NDPB by virtue of the Agriculture Act 1967 with the general duty of promoting greater efficiency in the livestock and livestock product industries in Great Britain. Apart from the payment and expenses of MLC Commissioners from public funds, and occasional public grants, the MLC is funded principally by a combination of a statutory levy on livestock producers and private income from commercial services (including services procured by Defra, such as £9.3 million for foot and mouth disease related work in 2001-02). As producers are required by statute to pay the levy, it is classed as public expenditure. However in reality the costs of the MLC fall almost entirely on the private livestock sector rather than the Exchequer. Sea Fish Industry Authority The Sea Fish Industry Authority is a public levy funded body set up by the Fisheries Act 1981 to promote the efficiency of the sea fish industry and to serve the interests of that industry as a whole. The last review of it recommended that it be retained as a public body as its statutory objective remains relevant and the SFIA benefits the industry as a whole.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

105083; 402 c634-6W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Assets Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Public expenditure Non-departmental public bodies Horticulture Research International Food From Britain Meat and Livestock Commission Seafish

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk