MLC Appointments
Secretary of State Margaret Beckett, the Scottish Ministers and the Assembly Secretary for the Welsh Assembly Government have extended the appointments of Commissioners to the Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC) for eighteen months from 1 October 2005.
The Commissioners are: Ms. Helen Browning, Mr. Richard Cracknell, Mr. John Cross, Dr. Kevin Hawkins, Mr. Stewart Houston, Mr. Paul Kirk, Professor Richard Moody, Mr. Rees Roberts, and Mr. Neil Stoddart. Mr Paul Kirk has been re-appointed as Deputy Chairman of the MLC. Mr.
John Cross will chair the English Beef and Lamb Executive, Mr. Stewart Houston will chair the British Pig Executive, and Professor Richard Moody will chair the MLC Consumers Committee.
Biographies
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, one of the UK's leading beef processors. 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. He is a former NFU Chairman for Animal Health and Welfare.
Kevin Hawkins - Dr. Hawkins is Director General of the British Retail Consortium (BRC). He is a member of the Cabinet Office's Better Regulation Task Force, Defra's Sustainable Procurement Task Force, the Scottish Food and Health Council and the Department of Health Food and Drink Advertising and Promotion Forum. 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.
Paul Kirk - Most recently non-executive Chairman of Dalgety Group
Ltd. He has been involved in the agriculture and food industry for
35 years. Mr. Kirk has accepted re-appointment as Deputy Chairman of the MLC, a post he has held since March 1999.
Professor Richard Moody - Head of one of the largest specialist food and management Schools 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 quality, food law and nutrition, Professor Moody works closely with the food industry on regional, national and European projects. Professor Moody 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 a research adviser/reviewer on the FSA's food additives work.
Rees Roberts - a farmer from Montgomeryshire with over 25 years experience. He runs a successful sheep and cattle business and is very active in the red meat industry. He is Chairman of Hybu Cig Cymru (Meat Promotion Wales) and has held the post of MLC Commissioner for Wales for the last seven years. Mr Roberts is currently a member of the Agri-Food Partnership. He is past Chairman of the Welsh Sheep Strategy and Welsh Lamb and Beef Promotions Ltd.
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. Mr. Stoddart is a member of the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department's Agricultural Strategy Implementation Group. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity (if any declared) to be made public. No activity has been declared.
