Many of you will no doubt have noted that the Journal still hasn?t published a response to the proposed restructure of London?s wholesale markets from Lord Whitty. No-one has. The minister hasn?t made a statement nearly a month after it was expected.

Worse than that, Defra doesn?t have to justify itself. Whispers of the delay being down to recess and a cabinet reshuffle have been proven to be nothing more than a smokescreen. And still the industry waits.

Perhaps the importance of this statement is being underestimated, but the one thread that ties the original proposals together is the sale of New Covent Garden to the Corporation of London.

Although none of the parties involved has said as much, there is little doubt that a refusal to sell on the part of the minister would unravel the proposals almost entirely. It is highly unlikely that the Corporation would feel inclined to move its meat and fish markets to E10 if New Covent Garden was not in their hands as part of the equation.

Few expect anything other than a sale to the Corporation. Terms and conditions will need to be thrashed out, but what exactly is the reason for the failure to comment at the ministry?

Everyone else involved has used their voice to good effect. Most of the planning and negotiation in the last few months has centred on the eventual sale to the Corporation. Maybe I?m being impatient, but I am not alone in wondering what you think, minister.

Inside this week?s Journal is The Greenery?s UKSalad Market Report 2003. It is a tremendous communication tool and hopefully will be used to stimulate action across the salad sector.