Sir Gerald Kaufman MP and Lord Bilston were just two of the famous faces at the Westminster Reception to celebrate the start of Markets Week and the launch of the Policy Framework Document for Markets produced for the All Party Markets Parliamentary Group.

The Minister of State, Yvette Cooper , Communities and Local Government, welcomed the Policy Framework document produced for the All Party Markets Parliamentary Group at the launch at Westminster this week and highlighted the fact that there are good examples of markets reinventing themselves. She made particular reference to the healthy eating agenda and the growing demand for healthy food and the contribution made by farmers markets was most welcome. Detailed extracts from her speech are to be found on this web site.

In closing the Minister welcomed the opportunity to support the work of the APPG and also wished the Group success as the Policy Framework document was developed in the coming months.

Malcolm Veigas of NABMA, joint author of the Policy Framework document, responded to the Ministers comments and thanked her for her words of encouragement. He referred to the five key areas of the Policy Framework and the role played by markets in providing a sense of place, being part of the nation’s cultural heritage, remaining an important element of the economy, offering local access to fresh produce and reducing environmental impacts.

Malcolm gave an assurance that further work would be carried out to develop good practice that can be used for the benefit of the markets industry.

Malcolm was followed by Joe Harrison, Chief Executive Officer of NMTF, who endorsed the comments made by Malcom and welcomed the opportunity for market industry organisations to work together for the overall good of the industry. He thanked the Minister for her words of support.

Gareth Jones of FARMA also endorsed the Policy Framework document and expressed appreciation of the comments made by the Minister about the contribution made by farmers’ markets.