Oral Answers to Questions — Wales – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 1 March 1993.
Michael Fabricant
, Staffordshire Mid
12:00,
1 March 1993
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make a statement concerning the exportation of products from the Lampeter region.
Mr Wyn Roberts
, Conwy
I am pleased to say that a number of firms in the Lampeter area are exporting very successfully.
Michael Fabricant
, Staffordshire Mid
Is my right hon. Friend aware that in many hotels in the far east, and I include Jakarta—[Interruption.] I shall ask my question despite attempts by the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies), both in the Chamber and outside, to prevent me from doing so. Is my right hon. Friend—[Interruption.]
Michael Fabricant
, Staffordshire Mid
Is my right hon. Friend aware that in many parts of the far east, including Jakarta, the only type of bottled water that can be bought is, surprisingly, that from Perrier in France? Is he aware also that Lampeter bottles excellent water called Ty Nant? What is my right hon. Friend doing to promote its export?
Mr Wyn Roberts
, Conwy
Ty Nant spring water of Lampeter is well known to my Department, and I am aware of the success that has been achieved in exporting it abroad. My officials have visited the company and provided its representatives with advice and information about the opportunities that are available in overseas markets. I am glad to tell my hon. Friend that he will find Ty Nant spring water in western Europe, the United States of America and Australia. I dare say that it is what my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State had for lunch today in honour of St. David, who was a man who had a predilection for water.
I am appalled, as I am sure the rest of the House will be, to hear my hon. Friend say that he was threatened by the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) when he thought of tabling a question. We welcome questions from Conservative Members and from any Members of the House.
Paul Flynn
, Newport West
Is the Minister aware that Lampeter is the centre of the organic farming industry of Wales, with one company there employing 150 people? As organic farming is good for the environment and for people, will he encourage its growth so that we can eat vegetables and other foodstuffs as pure as Dewi Sant?
Mr Wyn Roberts
, Conwy
Seeing the daffodil on the hon. Gentleman's lapel and on the lapels of all round the Chamber, I am pleased that I am wearing a leek, which is at least edible. Yes, we encourage organic farming. We hope that it will be accompanied by warm libations of water.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.