Local Conservative MP for Carlisle John Stevenson was yesterday appointed as Chair of the Food and Drink Manufacturing All Party Parliamentary Group at the 2010 AGM.
The Group represents the food and drink manufacturing industry in Parliament and provides a forum for debate and dialogue about issues relating to the sector. One of the roles of the APPG is to encourage the government to avoid increasing the burden of regulation that can directly impact a business’s ability to remain competitive in a challenging economic environment.
Within Stevenson’s constituency of Carlisle, food manufacturers like Carr’s Biscuits, United Biscuits and Nestlé are a significant source of employment and productivity.
Said Stevenson: “I am looking forward to the opportunities presented by chairing the Food and Drink Manufacturing APPG, which I hope will enable me to generate significant legislative support for an industry which offers world class capabilities in production, logistics, sales, marketing and innovation. By supporting the industry nationally, we can expect to reap the benefits closer to home in Carlisle, which remains a regional centre for manufacturing excellence.”
Elected as MP in the May elections with a majority of 853, John Stevenson is a partner in the law firm Bendles based in the centre of Carlisle. He had also been a Carlisle City Councillor since 1999.
