Cunningham: plan to restore public confidence

"Radical shake-up"

Radical Shake-up At Agriculture

"It is fundamental change," he told BBC television. "This department, I hope, will be changed beyond all recognition in a period of months from now."

Getting the ban on exports of British beef lifted is a priority for the new Government. The industry is in crisis. Cattle prices and consumer confidence in beef are at an all time low.

The Government hopes to regain the public's trust by dramatically restructuring the Ministry of Agriculure and setting up an independent food standards agency.

Aim to lift EU beef ban

The Agency will be responsible for ensuring food safety in Britain. It is likely to answer to the Department of Health and Parliament but will also have powers to bypass ministers and enforce food safety laws directly. This will be the job of local and health authorities.

"We've already begun to reorganise the department to separate out the Food Standards Agency personnel," he continued. "We've changed the priorities of the department. We've put consumers at the top of our list of priorities."

"These really are fundamental and far-reaching changes in the whole culture of MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food)," he added.

"This has been a closed, inward-looking, secretive, unresponsive department which has not enjoyed the best of reputations in the last two or three years. We're hoping to change all that," said Mr Cunningham.