Extract from Wales
Questions: Leaving the EU: Economic Support
(Dunfermline and West
Fife) (SNP): Will the Secretary of State recognise that
92% of Welsh lamb goes for EU export? Welsh hill farmers have
said that if a no-deal Brexit goes ahead, their industry will be
decimated and wiped out—a view confirmed in his economic evidence
that was published last night. If that is his analysis, will the
Secretary of State for Wales act responsibly and make sure that
Welsh lamb is protected?
The Secretary of State for Wales (Alun Cairns):
I would say similarly to the hon. Gentleman that absolutely, we
recognise the importance of Welsh agriculture, as we do all the
important employment and economic sectors in Wales. The National
Farmers Union and NFU Cymru were strong supporters of the deal
with the European Union, so if he is happy to repeat their
message today, I hope that he is happy to act on their message
when it comes to voting on the meaningful vote in this House.
Extract from Commons
debate on UK’s Withdrawal from the EU
(Birmingham, Erdington)
(Lab):...The National Farmers Union spoke out.
From plough to plate, there were grave concerns about the
consequences of a no-deal Brexit. Ford said that vehicles were
already in transit, but that it did not know what the tariffs
would be when they landed. A major health and safety company that
was to make a 1,000-strong investment in Northern Ireland has now
pulled back from that investment. The ceramics industry is
panic-stricken at hard Brexiteers’ notion of zero tariffs,
fearing the impact that it would have on their businesses. The
Investment Association talked of the shift of investment to Asia
in particular. A major engineering company said that a £35
million regional headquarters had been shelved...
To read the whole debate, CLICK
HERE
Extract from Lords
motion to approve the Trade in Animals and Related Products
(Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State,
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Gardiner
of Kimble) (Con):...Additionally, on the subject of this
legislation Defra has engaged with various major stakeholders—the
Food and Drink Federation, the International Meat Trade
Association and the NFU—who raised no concerns with Defra’s
approach...
(Lab):...The NFU says it has been told informally that,
although Britain is in complete regulatory alignment with the EU,
if there is no deal the same health checks that countries such as
China and the US undergo will apply to UK suppliers. This would
mean that 6,000 meat processing plants that export to the EU
would have to undergo individual audits by British authorities.
These would be checked by EU officials and then put to a standing
veterinary committee for approval, a process that the NFU has
calculated will take six months, “at a conservative reading”.
These checks will also be conducted on any other companies
supplying food and drink to the EU, including those exporting
bottled water, honey, jam, dairy and other fresh foods. Does the
Minister agree with this projection by the National Farmers’
Union? What is his assessment of the impact on the viability of
food and drink businesses in the UK in the short and long term if
that is the case?
To read the whole debate, CLICK
HERE
