asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to ensure that the role of livestock auctions is fully taken into account in any marketing initiative.

Livestock auction markets are an important link in the marketing chain. I am sure the new central marketing organisation, for which I announced plans on 8 June in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Devon, West (Mr. Mills), will take full account of the interests of this sector in any appropriate marketing initiative.