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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