Examination of Witness (Questions 200
- 205)
TUESDAY 29 FEBRUARY 2000 (Afternoon Sitting)
RT HON
NICHOLAS BROWN
200. We would eventually obviously be interested
to see it.
(Mr Brown) I think it is very important for public
service—
201. I was involved in the reorganisation of
the MAFF regional offices, so I have a certain paternity in this
regard.
(Mr Brown) We can revisit old ground then. It is a
very important report and the consequences of proceeding on its
recommendations and Don Curry's Review Group's recommendations
are substantial. No decision has been made in Government but I
have said to the unions and to yourselves as well that I would
not undertake a project of this kind unless I was absolutely certain
that all the parameters, including the transitional period and
the impact on the staff, had been properly covered.
202. We appreciate that. It is obviously important
if we are going to have a policy which is more integrated that
the mechanisms and the players should work as closely as possible.
(Mr Brown) Yes. It is just the history of the difference
between theory and practice in this area is not entirely happy.
203. It is a long history. Could I remind you
that the uncorrected transcript will be put on the Internet tomorrow?
This apparently causes wild excitement in some quarters.
(Mr Brown) I will put all the corrections on it a
couple of days later!
204. Could I also say that I noted the small
but benign slip when, instead of the word "delivery"
you used the word "deliverance". We all hope, I think,
ultimately for deliverance, perhaps farmers more than most at
the moment.
(Mr Brown) Maybe my own internal prayers will be answered!
205. Thank you very much, Minister, for being
extremely helpful and full in your replies as always. We look
forward to our next encounter.
(Mr Brown) Thank you very much too.
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