'I welcome Nicholas Saphir's report on London wholesale markets and strongly endorse the central recommendation that there should be a central London market for meat, fish, fruit and vegetables - and, of course, flowers - based here at the Nine Elms site of New Covent Garden Market.

'The key point arising from the report is how this proposal will be followed through, funded and - hopefully - implemented. I -and I am sure the Board and my colleagues on the staff of the Authority - will be keen to participate with all relevant parties in pursuing this.

'I strongly believe that there will continue to be the need for a wholesale market in fruit and vegetables and flowers. However, there is also a growing market for the provision and distribution of produce for the catering trade - both private sector (hotels, restaurants) and public sector (schools, hospitals). There is an overwhelming logic in meat and fish also being traded and distributed from the same site, thus creating a one-stop shop for food produce.

'The Nine Elms site is the ideal location for such a composite market and we have the space for it to be created and developed. I recognise that the Government has long wanted to dispose of its interest in New Covent Garden Market - after all, why should the Government own a wholesale market? I believe that the recommendations of Mr Saphir's report point the way for the Government to relinquish its involvement in wholesale markets.

'My immediate concern is for the security and welfare of the existing tenants at New Covent Garden Market and the staff of Covent Garden Market Authority. There has for too long been uncertainty hanging over all of us here, although the statement by Nick Brown, when minister of agriculture, that the Market here would only be sold as a going concern was most welcome. I believe now that the future for our tenants will be bolstered by the location of the fish and meat markets here. Also believe that the need for an effective administration of the Market will require experienced and professional staff, and these are the staff of the Authority.

'I look forward to discussions and consultations on the most effective way of implementing Mr Saphir's report. It is an historic opportunity to enable London's wholesale markets to survive and prosper in the 21st century and beyond.' Covent Garden Market Authority is a statutory corporation responsible for running New Covent Garden Market.

For more comment from Nine Elms see freshinfo and the Journal next week.

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