APPENDIX 3
Memorandum submitted by the Chief Executive,
Food From Britain (C 4)
During the Agriculture Select Committee's recent
inquiry looking into Food From Britain, there were two Questions
by Mr Austin Mitchell, MP, to which I undertook to provide subsequent
answers.
The first question, number 7 in the written
evidence, related to the proportion of commodity trade and specialised
foods. In broad terms, commodity trade accounted for some 14 per
cent in 1998 and 11 per cent in 1999.
The second relates to Question 45, where Mr
Mitchell asked what percentage of the total export figure for
food and drink was accounted for by whisky. The answer here is
23 per cent (£2 billion) of all UK food and drink exports.
In addition, I would like to clarify the misunderstanding
with Mr Mark Todd of the Committee, with regard to the discussion
on initiatives in the East Midlands. The relevant regional taste
group, Middle England Fine Foods (MEFF) which is supported by
FFB funding and services, is playing a key role in East Midlands
Development Agency's task force on the food and drink sector.
Mr Todd, as MP for South Derbyshire, may be interested to hear
also of the work being co-ordinated by MEFF and its appointed
project officer, Ed Barket, under the banner of Leader II. MEFF
is pivotal in the formulation of the East Midlands Development
Agency's food and drink policy and its invitation from the RDA
to work towards becoming the regional representative body for
the sector.
I hope that this additional information will
complete the FFB evidence to the Committee.
15 May 2000
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