Select Committee on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Minutes of Evidence


Supplementary memorandum submitted by Lord Whitty, Minister for Food, Farming and Waterways, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (G 28b)

  When I gave evidence to your Committee on 10 July in connection with your inquiry—The Role of DEFRA— you asked me to provide two pieces of supplementary information. You wanted to know the cost of the DEFRA stand/display at this year's county shows and how many times the Ministerial Sub-committee on Rural renewal (DA(RR)) has met and discussed in the past year.

  The DEFRA stands being used at this year's agricultural shows were designed and built by two companies, Sabre International Exhibitions and Sasex. In both cases the stands are not new, each having been used at events during 2001. The contracts for this work were awarded following an established process of competitive tendering. While the costs involved are a matter of commercial confidentiality they are in line with commercial rates that Government departments would expect to pay for stands of this sort.

  I regret that I am not permitted to be as helpful to the Committee as I offered to be in responding to questions 236-7. My officials have rightly reminded me that, in accordance with the practice of previous Governments the frequency of meetings and the detailed agenda of Cabinet Committees are confidential.

26 July 2002




 
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