Extract from DEFRA
Questions: Farming: Funding Schemes
(Ochil and South Perthshire)
(Con): Since it was established in the Agriculture
Bill Committee that further primary legislation is required for
direct payments to be made to Scotland and other parts of the
United Kingdom, what steps is my hon. Friend taking to ensure
that Scotland is in the UK Agriculture Bill and that it conforms
with the needs of the National Farmers Union Scotland and my
constituents?
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (George
Eustice): My hon. Friend makes an important point.
As I said earlier, there is an open offer from the Government to
add a schedule for Scotland at a later stage of the Bill’s
progress, should Scotland wish us to. This area is devolved to
Scotland. The Scottish Government have the power to act in this
space and they need to make up their mind and decide what they
want to do.
Extract from questions
to the House of Commons Commission: UK Food and
Drink
(Warley)
(Lab): What steps the Commission is taking to
increase the sale of UK-produced food and drink (a) in catering
outlets and (b) for events hosted on the parliamentary
estate.
(Carshalton and
Wallington): The right hon. Gentleman will be very
pleased to know that there is a lot of promotional activity for
British food. For example, Red Tractor Week took place in
September, and we worked with British farmers and the National
Farmers Union to promote British food. He will also be pleased to
know that the wine list in Strangers’ and Members’ includes a
good selection of English wines. Something that he may want to
consider—if he has not already taken advantage of it—is that
individual Members can ask for a specific cask of ale from an
independent regional brewer from their constituency to be placed
in the Strangers’ bar.
: I am certainly
aware of the provision for regional breweries in the Strangers’
bar. I congratulate the right hon. Gentleman on the steps that
the Commission has taken on this and on reducing plastic use, but
will the Commission take the lead from other public bodies in
ensuring that our suppliers are, at every possible opportunity,
prioritising and insisting on supporting British farmers,
manufacturers and workers, and maximising UK-produced food and
drink, especially from small and medium-sized enterprises?
: I can assure the
right hon. Gentleman that in this place we push hard for very
high quality produce, which is often British-sourced. The
overwhelming majority of food throughout the catering
establishments is British. If he is suggesting that we should
adopt a “buy British” policy, I am sure he aware that that is not
something that we can do in practice.
