Consumer Panel 37. Mr. Brandon-Bravo To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his consumer panel will have its first meeting. 42. Mr. Jim Marshall To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the operation of his consumer panel. 70. Mr. Irvine To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that consumer opinion is fully taken into account in formulating future food safety policy. Mr. Boswell To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent arrangements he has made to improve the representation of consumer interests towards his Department. Mr. Gummer Following my announcement of 2 November 1989 (Official Report, columns 317–18) we have established a consumer panel made up of ordinary consumers nominated by the main consumer bodies but appointed in an individual capacity. Its terms of reference are: "To review matters relating to the implementation of food safety policies and to examine particular issues of concern to consumers". The first meeting of the panel will take place in London on 12 March 1990. The names of the members are: Mr. Phillip Bell, EdinburghMrs. Dorothy Craig, Newcastle upon TyneMrs. Harriet Kimbell, GuildfordMrs. Susan Leather, ExeterMr. Patrick McCoy, ArmaghMr. Gareth Morgan, Llanfairpwll, GwyneddMrs. Wilma Mulliner, WeymouthMrs. Susan Payne, BromleyMrs. Noelle Whamond, Newton Stewart I expect the panel to lead to a useful dialogue between consumers and Ministers on food safety issues. We also wish to initiate periodic meetings in which we can bring together the leaders of consumer groups to consider a wide range of complex policy issues going much wider than the food safety issues on which the consumer panel will be concentrating. I am therefore writing today to 15 consumer bodies inviting them to a meeting in the Ministry next month. We expect that these arrangements will strengthen contacts and enable Ministers to hear a wide range of consumer views directly. They supplement the well-established arrangements for consulting consumer bodies on particular issues and listening to their views.