The All-Party Parliamentary Fruit Group is to be reconstituted post-election and is expected to play a vital part in the UK industry in the coming year.
At a meeting in Westminster on Tuesday, representatives of English Apples and Pears, the National Fruit Show and two of its sponsors - Norman Collett and Agrovista - met with the group’s chairman Lord Selborne.
The attendees are charged with searching out 20 MPs and peers - 10 from government and 10 from opposition - by October, ahead of the group’s AGM at the National Fruit Show.
Hugh Robertson MP had been secretary of the group but is now unable to sit in this position following his move to become minister for spot. Those already confirmed to accompany Lord Selborne in the group are Lord Mayhew, Baroness Byford, Andrew George MP and Baroness Dean.
The group intends to meet in November to cover apples, the end of February to discuss the labour and healthy eating schemes and in June to cover soft fruit, among other issues.
Lord Selborne encouraged members to look at links to other all-party parliamentary groups, such as the group looking at water to help combine research and ideas.
Norman Collett business development manager Sarah Calcutt said: “It has the potentially to be a very effective information platform. We have members from a lot of interesting parties and we want more, a group is only as good as its members.”
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