Examination of witness (Questions 880
- 886)
TUESDAY 23 NOVEMBER 1999
THE RT
HON NICHOLAS
BROWN
880. You do not have a personal view as the
Minister for Agriculture on that question?
(Mr Brown) If others are content, I am content.
881. So you do not have a view?
(Mr Brown) I do have a view and that is if others
are content I am content.
Chairman
882. I think the absence of complaint is always
a guide for any politician.
(Mr Brown) It is also so exceptional that you tend
to take these little pearls when you find them!
883. Just before we let you go, Minister, is
there any news you would like to share with us from Paris or Berlin?
(Mr Brown) I would love to share news with you from
Paris or Berlin but I have not got any.
884. That is an honest answer to that question.
Minister, can I just remind you of one thing, this is the last
evidence session of this inquiry into the marketing of milk. We
are grateful to you for giving your time once again to this Committee.
We hope to publish our report as soon as possible. It is likely
in practice to be early in the New Year before it appears, sadly,
because of the intervention of Christmas and New Year. Your evidence
will appear more rapidly in the public domain than has been the
case before. You will be on the Internet as soon as we can get
it there, probably some time on Thursday. I am sure this will
make your officials all the more anxious to correct it since it
has appeared on the Internet.
(Mr Brown) The MAFF Internet site is much praised
and is something I think our Department does very well. I am keen
to see the Select Committee making use of it as well.
885. It will be the uncorrected version so I
am sure your officials will want to correct it rapidly thereafter.
(Mr Brown) Chairman, that is the story of my life.
886. It is also the last time we will see you
this millennium so Happy New Year.
(Mr Brown) I hope the next millennium goes well for
you all. Thank you.
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