DEPARTMENT FOR
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (News Release
ref:93/07) issued by The Government News Network on 26 March 2007
Farming Minister
Jeff Rooker extended the appointments of the Meat and Livestock
Commission (MLC) Chairman, Peter Barr CBE and Commissioners up to
the 31 March 2008 when there will be a radical restructuring of
the five levy boards, including the MLC.
The appointments for Commissioner for Scotland, Donald Biggar and
Wales, Rees Roberts, have also been extended until 31 March 2008
with the approval of the Scottish and Welsh Ministers respectively.
The Commissioners are: Paul Kirk (Deputy Chairman), Professor
Richard Moody (Chairman of the Consumers Committee), Helen
Browning OBE, Richard Cracknell, John Cross, Dr Kevin Hawkins OBE,
Stewart Houston, Neil Stoddart.
Jeff Rooker said "I am pleased that Peter and the MLC Board
of Commissioners have agreed to stay on and provide continuity
until the new levy board arrangements are in place. There
continues to be a great deal of work to be done to help industry
adapt to changes, such as CAP reform and the Sustainable Farming
and Food Strategy. "
These appointments can be terminated at our discretion at any time.
Notes to Editors
1 - The five levy boards, consisting of the British Potato
Council, the Meat and Livestock Commission, the Milk Development
Council, the Horticultural Development Council and the Home Grown
Cereals Authority, will be replaced by one statutory levy board,
with sector specific companies, in April 2008.
2 - The Meat and Livestock Commission was established under the
1967 Agriculture Act with the aim of promoting greater efficiency
in the livestock industry. It is a Non Departmental Public Body
(NDPB), which is mainly funded by means of a statutory levy paid
by producers, slaughterers and exporters on cattle, pigs and
sheep. It has a wide range of functions, including improving the
efficiency of livestock production, promoting meat as an important
part of a balanced diet, advice on meat marketing, collecting and
disseminating information (including information on prices and
economic matters) and strategic and near market R&D.
3 - The Chairman's remuneration is £74,917 per annum.
Commissioners receive a remuneration of £10,796 per annum. The
Deputy Chairman receives a remuneration of £21,590 per annum. The
Chairman of the Consumers Committee receives a remuneration of
£18,355 per annum.
4 - The extensions have been made in accordance with the Office
of the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of
Practice. All appointments are made on merit and political
balance plays no part in the selection process. However, in
accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a
requirement for appointees' political activity (if declared)
to be made public. Peter Barr and the Commissioners have declared
no political activity.
Biographical notes of MLC Chairman and Commissioners are as follows:
Peter Barr, CBE
Peter Barr was first appointed Chairman in April 2001. He is
also a member of the Institute for Grocery Distribution's
Policy issues Council, a member of the Food Chain Centre Steering
Group, Chairman of Red Meat Industry Forum and former Chairman of
the Applied Research Forum for Farming and Food.
Before joining the MLC he was Chairman of Hazelwood Foods and
chaired the Institute of Grocery Distribution's Food Project.
He was awarded the CBE for services to the food industry in 1998.
Peter is married with five children and lives in Hazelwood, Derbyshire.
Helen Browning, OBE - tenant farms a 1,350 acre organic livestock
and arable farm in Wiltshire. She is the founder of Eastbrook
Farms Organic Meat and is the Soil Association's Food and
Farming Director. Helen is Chairman of the England Animal Health
and Welfare Implementation Group and the Food Ethics Council. She
is also a member of the Red Meat Industry Forum and a director of
the Organic Milk Supplier Co-operative (OMSCO). She was a member
of the Government's Policy Commission on the Future of
Farming and Food ('the Curry Commission'). She was
awarded the OBE in 1998 for services to organic farming.
Richard Cracknell - Managing Director of Anglo Beef Processors
Limited, the UK's leading beef processor. Director of
Assured Food Standards, Director of the Meat Training Council,
past Director of Assured British Meat, past President of the
British Meat Federation and of Farm Assured British Beef and Lamb.
John Cross - a mixed livestock and arable farmer from North West
Norfolk. Prior to being Chairman of the English Beef and Lamb
Executive, he was Chairman of MLC Beef & Lamb Promotion
Council and Deputy Chairman of the Applied Research Forum. He is
a former NFU Chairman for Animal Health and Welfare. He has
recently been appointed as a shadow board member of Levy Board UK
and as Chair Designate of the Beef and Lamb (England) Sector Company.
Kevin Hawkins, OBE - Dr. Hawkins is a member of the Scottish Food
and Health Council, the food industry Better Regulation forum the
food industry Sustainable Strategy Group, the Retail Policy Forum
and several other stakeholder groups. Kevin was awarded an OBE in
2004 for his services to the food industry.
Stewart Houston - a pig producer and Managing Director of
Microware Pig Systems Ltd. Mr. Houston is Chairman of the British
Pig Executive and Chairman and Executive Director of the National
Pig Association. He is a member of the NFU Policy Committee,
member of the NFU Council, representative to the Committee of
Agricultural Organisations in the European Union and General
Committee for Agricultural Co-operation in the European Union, and
member of the Pig Disease Eradication Fund (PDEF) Board. Joint
Chairman of the Joint (Industry /Government) Working Group on
sharing responsibility and cost of animal disease. He has recently
been appointed as a shadow board member of Levy Board UK and as
Chair Designate of the Pigs (England) Sector Company.
Paul Kirk - Most recently non-executive Chairman of Dalgety Group
Ltd. He has been involved in the agriculture and food industry for
40 years. Mr. Kirk has accepted re-appointment as Deputy Chairman
of the MLC, a post he has held since March 1999. Chair of the
Finance and Sponsorship Group of the Year of Food and Farming.
Professor Richard Moody - Research Professor and ex-head of one
of the largest specialist food and management departments in the
UK at Manchester Metropolitan University. Professor Moody has been
re-appointed as an independent Commissioner and Chairman of the
MLC's statutory Consumers' Committee. With postgraduate
qualifications in Food Science and Nutrition, and extensive
research experience in food safety, food choice, food law and
nutrition, Professor Moody works closely with the food industry on
regional, national and European projects and is a member of the
Food Standards Agency (FSA) Advisory Council on Research, a member
of the FSA Working Party on Food Additives, and is an
adviser/reviewer to the FSA on its food additives work.
Neil Stoddart - Managing Director and owner of AK Stoddart (AKS),
one of the largest beef slaughterers and processors in Scotland.
Formerly president of the Scottish Association of Meat
Wholesalers, and a Director of Quality Meat Scotland.
Rees Roberts OBE - Rees is a farmer from Montgomeryshire. He runs
a successful sheep and cattle business and is very active in the
red meat industry. He has held the post of MLC Commissioner for
Wales since 1989. Mr Roberts is currently a member of the
Agri-Food Partnership Lamb and Beef Strategy Group. He became
chairman of the Welsh red meat promotion body Hybu Cig Cymru on
its creation in 2003. Rees is married, with two daughters.
Donald Biggar - Donald is a partner and manager of the family
farming business in the South West of Scotland where the main
enterprises are beef and lamb production. The farm is also home of
the Chapelton Beef Shorthorn and Aberdeen Angus herds of pedigree
cattle. He was Vice-Chairman of QMS since its inception and was
appointed interim Chairman of QMS in October 2005. He is married
with three children.
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