Agriculture (Aid)

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 4:31 pm on 16 November 1998.

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Photo of Nick Brown Nick Brown Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Minister of State (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) 4:31, 16 November 1998

On the last point, I am working with my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on the broader rural agenda, which properly is a matter for both our Departments. Of course, we will consult the territorial Departments as well.

As Chair of the Agriculture Select Committee, the hon. Gentleman is right to remind the House about charges. I intend to discuss those matters further with the industry, but I did say some time ago that there would come a time when charges were transferred from the public purse, which is carrying them at the moment, to the industry. It is clearly right that it should meet those costs in the longer term. Traceability, which underpins the larger of the charges, is here to stay. We would be complete fools to try to push that regime backwards, because it is a requirement of consumer confidence.