Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ministers were answering
questions in the Commons. Subjects covered included...
To read any of these in greater detail, either click on the link
above or see below.
Dairy Industry: Covid-19
(Clwyd South) (Con)
What steps he is taking to support the dairy industry during the
covid-19 outbreak. [903794]
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
()
The Government have had to take some unprecedented steps to
control the coronavirus, and it is the case that parts of the
dairy industry were affected by the closure of the hospitality
sector earlier in March. We have introduced specific measures to
support the industry, including a dairy response fund, which
opened for applications on 18 June. Payments will begin from 6
July. We have also relaxed elements of competition law, and we
are supporting an industry-led promotional campaign.
Would my right hon. Friend be able to work with the Welsh
Government to secure greater milk processing capacity in order to
add value back to Welsh dairy farmers, particularly in my
constituency of Clwyd South, which has been hit hard by the
demise of Tomlinson’s Dairies and by bovine TB, so that all
farmers can get a fair price for their world-beating Welsh milk?
My hon. Friend makes an important point. The Government do indeed
work with the devolved Administrations to improve outcomes for
our dairy farmers. Indeed, just yesterday, jointly with the
devolved Administration, we launched a consultation seeking views
from dairy farmers and processors on new regulations to secure
transparency and fairness in dairy contracts. As he points out,
there are also circumstances where grant funding can be made
available to support investment in processing capacity, and that
can help add value to the milk produced by our farmers.
Dual Tariff Proposals: British Food Standards
(Easington) (Lab)
What steps he is taking to protect British food standards under
dual tariff proposals. [903795]
(Erith and Thamesmead)
(Lab)
What steps he is taking to protect British food standards under
dual tariff proposals. [903807]
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
()
Like all Conservative Members, I am proud to have stood on a
manifesto commitment that, in all our trade negotiations, we will
not compromise on our high environmental protection, animal
welfare and food standards. The Secretary of State for
International Trade and I are working together to deliver that
commitment.
[V]
I thank the Secretary of State for that response, but will he
restate that he is still willing to stand by his party’s
manifesto commitment to put that into law to prevent food from
being imported into the United Kingdom that is produced in ways
that would be illegal under current legislation? I am thinking
particularly about chlorinated chicken.
Retained European law brings across a prohibition on treatments
such as chlorine washes on chicken and, indeed, hormone
treatments on beef. The Government have made it clear that those
have been brought across and remain in place. We also stand by
our manifesto commitment, which was to protect our food standards
and animal welfare standards in trade agreements, but we did not
ever say that we would legislate in the Agriculture Bill to do
that.
Can the Secretary of State explain exactly how a dual tariff
would prevent British consumers from having to accept imported
food produced by causing animals unnecessary suffering, and how
he will support British farmers striving to produce a high
standard of food?
The hon. Lady makes reference to media speculation. I am sure
hon. Members will understand that I cannot give a running
commentary on our discussions on a future trade agreement or
comment on such media speculation, but I will say that there are
many ways, through a trade deal, that a country can agree with
another country how to protect food standards—both food safety
and animal welfare.
(Plymouth, Sutton and
Devonport) (Lab/Co-op)
The public do not want our British farmers to be undercut by food
produced to lower standards abroad. Research by Which? published
today shows that eight out of 10 people are worried that trade
deals will risk our high animal welfare standards. With the
National Farmers Union petition now on 1 million names, it is
clear that Ministers are on the wrong side of the argument here,
so does the Environment Secretary need any more help convincing
the International Trade Secretary to put the Conservative
manifesto promise into law?
The International Trade Secretary and I are both absolutely
committed to delivering our manifesto commitments, but we also
have a manifesto commitment to expand the number of free trade
agreements that we have, and it is also the case that the UK
farming industry has offensive interests, particularly in dairy
and in meat such as pork, lamb and beef, in other countries,
particularly Asian markets. We want to expand the number of free
trade agreements that we have to create opportunities for our
industry but also to protect our standards, and that is exactly
what we will do.
I think we all know that the Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs ministerial team are part of the eight out of 10
who are worried about animal welfare in trade agreements, but may
I press the Secretary of State on a slightly different issue
related to food standards—the outbreaks of covid-19 in food
processing plants across the United Kingdom? This is serious. Any
outbreak needs to be contained. Food standards matter, and
standards for the people who work in those plants also matter.
What assessment has the Environment Secretary made of whether
meat processing plants and food factories are especially at risk,
and what assessment has he made of the low level of statutory
sick pay that forces many people to work in those plants instead
of staying at home because they simply would not earn enough
money to pay their bills if they did so?
I pay tribute to all those working in our food sector, including
in manufacturing, who have worked very hard to keep food on our
plates during these difficult times. The hon. Gentleman makes an
important point. We have heard now of three outbreaks linked to
meat plants. They have been picked up through the testing and
tracing approach that has been adopted and we are reviewing the
guidance. We suspect that these outbreaks might have been linked
either to canteens or, potentially, to car-sharing arrangements
in those plants. We will be revising guidance to ensure that
businesses have the approach that they need to prevent further
outbreaks in future.
(Edinburgh North and Leith)
(SNP)
The EU is clear that tariffs to counteract its green box
subsidies will not be acceptable. Will the Secretary of State
undertake to ensure that domestic food producers are not
disadvantaged by matching those green box subsidies for farmers
here?
As part of our agreement to leave the European Union, we have
been working for a couple of years now jointly with the European
Union on splitting the World Trade Organisation schedule,
including what is called the aggregate market support boxes—the
so-called green boxes and amber boxes—and the UK will have an
appropriate share of that green box support in the WTO.
Zoos: Covid-19
(Ashfield) (Con)
What steps he is taking to support zoos during the covid-19
outbreak. [903796]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
The Government have introduced a £14 million zoos fund for
licensed zoos in England. Outdoor areas of zoos and safari parks
have already been allowed to reopen, subject to appropriate
social distancing measures being in place. The indoor areas of
zoos and aquariums will be permitted to open from 4 July. An
announcement on further support for the zoos is expected
imminently.
Unfortunately, the best chances of survival for some animals is
in captivity. For centuries, we have taken away the natural home
of animals and we should all accept responsibility for that.
Keeping zoos and wildlife parks open is something that I
wholeheartedly support, and I am grateful that financial support
has been made available. We owe it to these animals to ensure
that they survive and continue to be a part of this planet, so
can my hon. Friend please assure me that Government will do all
they can to ensure that not one animal in our zoos and parks is
put to sleep due to financial constraints caused by this
pandemic?
We are a nation of animal lovers. I know that you, Mr Speaker,
are a very big animal lover, as am I and as is my hon. Friend the
Member for Ashfield (). The objective of the zoo
support fund, which, by the way, is open until 19 July, is to
address avoidable animal suffering in zoos, including, in the
worst cases, preventing unplanned euthanasia. My Department
continues to engage weekly with zoos to keep on top of what is
happening.
Trade Negotiations: North of England Small-scale Farming
(Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
(Lab)
8. What steps he is taking to protect small-scale farming in the
north of England in trade negotiations. [903798]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
We are clear that any future trade agreements must work for both
our farmers and consumers. This week, DEFRA and the Department
for International Trade have jointly announced a package of
measures to help food and drink businesses grow their trade
overseas. The package is aimed in particular at small businesses,
which make up 97% of the food and drink industry. This will
benefit businesses across the UK, including those in the north of
England. We will always stand up for British farming and we will
use our negotiations to make new opportunities for our businesses
large and small.
As lockdown eases, many of my constituents are once again
enjoying the glorious Northumbrian and County Durham landscapes.
That depends on farmers small in scale but with really high
production standards, whether it be for the cattle they graze on
the town moor, or the sheep on the Cheviots, or the grain sold
through local co-operatives such as Tynegrain. Why will the
Minister not commit to writing into law that we do not import
food with lower standards than those that our farmers already
meet, so that they are not undercut by the American
agro-industrial complex?
The Secretary of State has already answered that in some detail.
As my right hon. Friend set out. a range of measures are
available to protect the hon. Lady’s farmers, including existing
regulations. We have great transparency in this House and with
the general public in our trade negotiations. There is a great
deal of scrutiny of exactly how those negotiations are taking
place, and they will be put before the House again before they
are signed. We also have a further range of measures—we will be
consulting in detail on labelling before the end of the
year—which are all designed to protect her farmers.
Animal Welfare Standards
(Kensington) (Con)
What steps he is taking to promote high animal welfare standards.
[903800]
(South Basildon and East
Thurrock) (Con)
What steps he is taking to promote high animal welfare standards.
[903804]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
This Government are committed to the highest standards of animal
welfare. Our manifesto made it clear that we will bring in new
laws on animal sentience, end excessively long journeys for farm
animals and ban the keeping of primates as pets. We have
introduced one of the world’s toughest ivory bans and will be
supporting the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill.
I was disappointed that, because of coronavirus, the Second
Reading of the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill was delayed. Will
my hon. Friend assure me that it will be heard in the House at
the earliest opportunity?
We all shared my hon. Friend’s disappointment, and I am pleased
to be able to reassure her that the Bill is due to have its
Second Reading on 23 October.
[V]
Our constituents expect us to uphold animal welfare and high food
standards. Does my hon. Friend therefore agree that maintaining
the UK’s high food standards and excellent animal welfare record
is, among other things, in the Government’s interest, as that is
what customers at home and abroad expect and demand from UK
producers?
I absolutely agree with hon. Friend on that. The Government are
proud of the high animal health and welfare, and environmental
standards that underpin our high-quality produce. The UK’s
growing reputation for quality food and drink, with high
standards of food safety, animal welfare and sustainability,
serves as a great platform from which to expand our exports.
(Cambridge) (Lab)
The Minister has been hearing a strong message from the House
this morning about animal cruelty, because, sadly, the lockdown
has seen an increase in it, with the Royal Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reporting 47,000 incidents—the
Daily Mail calculates that that is one case every two minutes. As
we have heard, the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill has been
constantly delayed. The Bill has cross-party support. The
Government are supposed to be supporting it and they are supposed
to be running this place, so will the Minister guarantee that
Finn’s law will be on the statute book by the end of the year and
available to the courts?
As I said a moment ago, 23 October is the date available for
Second Reading. I have supported the Bill from the beginning and
I am pleased it will be moving forward just as quickly as we can
do it.
(Tiverton and Honiton)
(Con)
Food insecurity is a great issue, especially with the covid
virus. Evidence we are taking in the Select Committee on
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs shows that a lot of people
are in need of good food. I congratulate the Secretary of State
on the system of getting food straight from the farms to those
who most need it, but can he extend it even more? I ask because
after the pandemic and before the economy recovers properly
people are going to need more and more food.
My hon. Friend raises an important point. The Government have
made available £16 million to partners such as FareShare to
ensure that we can get food to thousands of food charities across
the country to support those in need. In addition, we have been
looking at other ways in which we can support those who are
financially vulnerable at this difficult time.
Countryside Stewardship: Water Quality
(North West Durham)
(Con)
What assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing
the number of areas that benefit from the countryside stewardship
water quality priority areas scheme. [903802]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
Countryside stewardship is designed to maximise environmental
improvements and value for money for the taxpayers. Water quality
actions are focused on areas posing the highest risk of water
pollution from agriculture, for example, in catchments draining
into specifically protected sites of biodiversity. We will look
to review these focus areas in the transition period and,
importantly, how we reward farmers for delivering public goods,
such as water quality, through our new environmental land
management scheme.
Mr Holden
As we move from the single farm payment to support for farmers to
protect the environment, these water quality protection areas are
one of the schemes that my local farmers in the Wear valley are
particularly interested in looking at. May I therefore urge the
Minister to include us in any review that is taking place?
I thank my hon. Friend for that question. I know that this is an
area he is particularly interested in, as he has spoken to me
about it before. Management practices that farmers introduce on
their land can bring multiple benefits to the environment,
including to water quality. I will pass on the invite to the
Secretary of State, whom I believe he has asked to visit. He may
have to make do with me or indeed with the farming Minister, the
Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,
my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (). We both have children
at Durham University, so perhaps we could come together.
Mr Speaker
A trip, in your own bubble.
Waste: Reuse and Recycling
(Carshalton and Wallington)
(Con)
What steps he is taking to reduce, reuse and recycle waste
produced in the UK. [903803]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
Our resources and waste strategy, published in December 2018,
sets out ambitious plans for how we will minimise waste, promote
resource efficiency and move towards a more circular economy
where we will reduce waste, reuse and recycle much more than we
do now. It combines short and long-term actions and gives a clear
long-term policy direction in line with our 25-year environment
plan.
As the Minister knows, the waste hierarchy calls for a reduction
in the amount of waste we produce as the best way to tackle waste
in this country, followed closely by reusing and recycling that
waste. Can she update me on the measures that her Department is
taking to reduce the amount of waste produced in this country as
part of our green recovery from covid, and will she consider
Carshalton and Wallington as a pilot area for any new schemes,
such as a deposit return scheme?
My hon. Friend is always representing his constituency and
pushing for new things, and rightly so. The combined effect of
the measures set out in the resources and waste strategy and the
Environment Bill will be to minimise the amount of waste that
reaches the lower levels of the waste hierarchy, including
disposal to landfill. We remain committed to eliminating all
avoidable plastic by the end of 2042. We have already committed
in our manifesto to introducing a deposit return scheme.
Unfortunately, we cannot consider the pilot in his area, but I
thank him for his support. We look forward to it being
introduced, and the second consultation will be under way next
year.
British Food Producers
(Warrington South) (Con)
What steps he is taking to promote British food producers.
[903805]
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
()
We are promoting British food and drink producers at home and
abroad. Just this week, we announced a package of trade and
investment measures to help food and drink businesses grow their
overseas trade, which includes reinforcing DEFRA’s Food is GREAT
campaign and promoting 50 food and drink export champions. We are
also supporting domestic campaigns such as the Agriculture and
Horticulture Development Board and Dairy UK’s £1 million
promotional campaign for milk.
As the Secretary of State will know, Cheshire is not just
renowned for its crumbly cheese. Our new potatoes are on the menu
at the world’s finest restaurants, and our salt is being used by
chefs all over the world to add flavour to fine food. We also
have some of the finest farmers’ markets selling food prepared
locally to my constituents in Warrington. What plans does my
right hon. Friend have to support farmers and food producers in
my constituency to navigate the challenging set of market
conditions created by covid-19?
My hon. Friend makes an important point. His part of Cheshire is
famous for its food, particularly its cheese, but also salt and
new potatoes. Many parts of our country are renowned for their
high-quality local produce, and we want to support farmers to
promote that and add value.
(Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op)
[V]
May I push the Secretary of State on this? Does he agree that the
future of British agriculture and the British food industry has
to be based on quality and shorter supply chains as we come out
of this pandemic? Will he join me in calling for an investigation
into what is happening in our meat processing plants? Some of
them look rather strange. In the four that I have looked at, many
of the workers are reluctant to take a test because they would
lose money and be isolated. That is a real problem. Could he look
into it?
I agree with the hon. Gentleman that this country has built a
proud record based on the quality of our food and food provenance
in particular, and we will maintain that. On the specific point
that he raises about outbreaks of coronavirus at three meat
plants, we are looking at that and have been investigating the
causes of it. We suspect, as I said earlier, that it is linked
either to shared transport or canteen areas, and new guidance
will be issued to those meat plants.
UK Farms: Productivity
(Broadland) (Con)
What steps he is taking to increase the productivity of UK farms.
[903806]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
The Agriculture Bill will allow us to introduce ambitious new
schemes in England based on the principle of public money for
public goods, so that we can reward farmers who protect our
environment, improve animal welfare and produce high-quality food
in a sustainable way. The Bill will also help farmers to stay
competitive.
Despite spending £3.4 billion each year under the common
agricultural policy and subsidies for our farmers, the
productivity growth rate has not significantly increased since
the 1990s. This is in stark contrast with unsupported sectors
such as egg production, where in 2019 alone productivity
increased by 3.8%. Does my hon. Friend agree that the removal of
the damping blanket of the CAP, as well as increased competition,
will drive productivity growth throughout farming, allowing
Government support for farming to focus on public money for
public goods?
I absolutely agree that moving away from the CAP provides the
opportunity for a more prosperous, competitive and self-reliant
industry. We will support UK farms to focus on their business
modelling and to improve efficiency, which may well, in turn,
reduce their environmental footprint.
UK Fishing Industry: Covid-19
(Waveney) (Con)
What steps he is taking to support the UK fishing industry during
the covid-19 outbreak. [903808]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
We understand that this is a challenging time for the fishing
industry and we have taken steps to support the sector. In April,
we launched a £10 million financial assistance package for
England’s fishing and aquaculture businesses, which included a £1
million grant scheme to support the sale of fish locally. The
sector is also able to benefit from the wider financial support
measures available for businesses. In addition, the Sea For
Yourself campaign has encouraged people to eat more fish.
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that answer. The process of
determining which businesses received funding through the
domestic seafood supply scheme has been criticised as being
unfair. While one project in the Lowestoft area was successful,
two good applications were not. What assistance will be available
to these and other businesses so as to enable the East Anglian
fishing industry to meet the infrastructure and other costs in
preparation for the end of the transition period?
I cannot discuss the individual cases, but I can say that
applications were reviewed by a panel of experts, including
several representatives from the catching and processing sectors.
The judging panel awarded funding to projects that best met the
criteria, especially those that could deliver benefits to a range
of fishing businesses.
Plastic Waste Increase: Covid-19
(Warley) (Lab)
What estimate his Department has made of the increase in plastic
waste as a result of the covid-19 outbreak. [903809]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
DEFRA continues to monitor the impact of covid-19 on material
flows. We have made no specific estimate of the impact of the
outbreak on levels of plastic waste. However, we remain committed
to eliminating the scourge of avoidable plastic waste by 2042, as
demonstrated by our plans to ban single-use plastic straws,
stirrers and cotton buds, which we discussed in this very Chamber
just a week ago. We continue to monitor recycling rates for
plastic packaging and we have committed to introduce a deposit
return scheme for drinks containers to incentivise people to
recycle more plastic.
May I suggest that the Department actually needs to get on and
make some plans for this? We are talking about not avoidable but
unavoidable plastic waste, because the covid-19 crisis has
clearly necessitated the use and disposal of massive quantities
of disposable personal protective equipment, much of it plastic,
and new mitigation measures for the catering and hospitality
industry will generate another wave. We all accept that this is
necessary to protect health and get Britain back to work, but
what is the Department going to do now to deal with this volume
of waste, much of it plastic?
I thank the right hon. Gentleman, who raises some good points.
This Government are absolutely committed to getting rid of
plastic waste, as our resources and waste strategy shows, and as
measures in the Environment Bill will demonstrate by bringing
forward the deposit return scheme and extended producer
responsibility. We need to get all businesses to think about what
happens to the plastic products they make at the beginning and
where they end up, with a view to greatly reduced quantities
going to landfill. He raises a good point about PPE. Many
companies are rethinking all this, and lots are now starting to
have reusable face coverings and to make their own. There is a
very useful guide to that on the Government website.
Vulnerable People: Food Supplies
(Leeds East) (Lab)
What steps he is taking to maintain food supplies for vulnerable
people during the covid-19 outbreak. [903811]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
We have mobilised an unprecedented package of support for our
most vulnerable people, including over 3 million food boxes and
priority supermarket delivery slots. An additional £63 million
has been confirmed by the Government to be distributed to English
local authorities to help those who are struggling to afford food
and other essentials. The Government are also providing £16
million to food support through charities, including FareShare
and WRAP.
[V]
The current pressure on food banks is absolutely immense, and we
know that income is at the heart of food poverty, so will the
Government take the urgent social security measures needed now to
get people the financial support they need, so they can get food
on their plates and on their children’s plates, by ending the
five-week wait for universal credit and abolishing that punitive
two-child limit?
The Government have introduced a package of support of over £6.5
billion to help families on benefits to cope with the financial
impact of covid.
I would like to use this opportunity, if I may, to pay tribute to
the taskforce, which I have led for the last few months, on
feeding the vulnerable. We have worked very closely with
colleagues across Government—in the Department for Work and
Pensions, the Department for Education and other Departments—as
well as, of course, with an excellent team from the supermarkets
and volunteers. I am pleased to say that, in so far as we have
been able, we have ensured that everybody who needs it has access
to food.
Several hon. Members rose—
Mr Speaker
We are now having to go to topicals—sorry about that.
Topical Questions
(Peterborough) (Con)
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
[903844]
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
()
The coronavirus has created many challenges for our country, and
the response of our key workers throughout the epidemic has been
quite extraordinary. As we take the next steps closer to
normality, I would like to take this opportunity to record our
thanks to all those working in the food supply chain for the
phenomenal way they have responded. From farmers to food
manufacturers, and from the delivery drivers to all those working
in food retail, their response has been truly phenomenal.
I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. The agricultural
land around Peterborough is some of the best land in the country.
With that in mind, could he let us know how he plans to increase
UK food and drink exports to emerging markets such as the Gulf?
This week, we announced new measures on exports, with export
champions to lead the way in opening new markets and to get more
of our fantastic food and produce in those overseas markets. I
have in recent years attended exhibitions such as Gulfood in the
Gulf, where there are indeed many opportunities, particularly for
our lamb sector.
(Barnsley East) (Lab)
Last November, after the devastating floods, the Prime Minister
committed to holding a summit to improve flood defences in the
north of England. Can I ask the Secretary of State why, six
months on, this summit has not taken place? Can he set a date,
and can he confirm that the Prime Minister will honour his
commitment and be in attendance?
The reason that we have not yet had that summit is quite simple:
it is that the coronavirus outbreak has taken up quite a lot of
our time and obviously made it very difficult to physically
travel to areas. I think it would be better to have a summit such
as that physically in the location, rather than it being yet
another Zoom meeting. However, I can give the hon. Lady a
guarantee that that summit will indeed take place. I gave that
commitment and it will happen.
(Bury South) (Con)
The green belt is rightly described as the green lungs around our
towns and cities, and it is rightly cherished by residents across
the country, including myself. Can my right hon. Friend advise
what cross-Government working has been taking place to promote
our manifesto commitment to protect and enhance the green belt,
including areas such as Elton reservoir and Simister in my
constituency? [903846]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
I thank my hon. Friend for that. Of course, people have valued
all of these green spaces in this lockdown period; that has been
more clear than ever. Our manifesto commitment says that, through
the Environment Bill, we will set a new domestic framework for
environmental governance, and this will enable us to work with
developers, landowners and managers to create and restore
wildlife-rich habitats, with wildlife thriving everywhere. We
will have biodiversity net gain through that environment plan,
and we will have local nature recovery strategies and a whole new
area called nature recovery networks. All of this will help to
look after our precious green space.
(York Central) (Lab/Co-op)
[V]
Animal welfare charities are witnessing a sharp increase in need
and this is expected to rise, while hundreds of charity staff in
the sector are being made redundant. Some charities are
struggling to cover their core costs, animal feed and vet bills.
When will the Secretary of State bring forward his strategy and
the necessary funding to support these vital animal welfare
charities? [903845]
We are aware that animal welfare charities have suffered from a
fall in donations and have had to close during the coronavirus
epidemic. There was an application that was considered as part of
a charities fund, but we will continue to work with those groups
to identify the support that they need.
(Stockton South) (Con)
Many people across Stockton South, including me, enjoy a cheeky
Nando’s or a finger-lickin’ good KFC, but we are concerned about
the prospect of chlorinated chicken. Can the Minister guarantee
that chlorinated chicken will not be on the menu in our trade
negotiations, and that we will remain a world leader on food and
animal welfare standards? [903847]
As I explained earlier, in any trade negotiation it will be for
the UK to determine what goes into the so-called sanitary and
phytosanitary chapter, which addresses these issues. As I also
pointed out, there is currently a prohibition on the sale of any
poultry treated with a chlorine wash.
(Birmingham, Selly Oak)
(Lab)
Some 75,000 people work in meat processing in this country. Meat
processing plants have been linked to the spread of the virus in
many countries, and we have had convincing evidence from
Professor Wood at Cambridge and Professor Semple at Liverpool on
the risks at these plants. What measures specific to food
processing plants has the Minister put in place? [903848]
Very early in this crisis, we worked with Public Health England
on guidance for these plants. It included, in some cases, spacing
out staff on the production line to maintain a distance of 2
metres, and, where that was not possible, ensuring that things
were arranged so that staff were facing away from one another. It
also involved increased hygiene, new measures on canteens and
guidance on car-share arrangements. As I have said, as a result
of the three outbreaks that have occurred, we are reviewing those
matters.
(Warrington South) (Con)
I return to the topic covered by my hon. Friend the Member for
Stockton South (), although I am less of a
finger-licker than he is. Many of my constituents in Warrington
South have written to me on their concerns about maintaining high
food standards in future trade arrangements, many of them driven
by misinformation from the Opposition. Does my right hon. Friend
agree that sticking with the UK’s high food and animal welfare
standards is, among other things, in this Government’s interest,
because that is what customers in this country expect and demand
from UK food producers? [903849]
We in this country have built a very sophisticated and valuable
market based on the safety of our food, the standards of our food
and our high animal welfare standards. We have committed in our
manifesto to maintaining those.
(Warwick and Leamington)
(Lab)
Perhaps I could dwell on this finger-licking topic that has come
up so frequently. Is not the simple truth that because so much of
our food consumption goes through the food services sector—in the
likes of prisons, hospitals, schools and the chains of
restaurants on our high street—with a great proportion of it, the
consumer will never know? That is the great fear. The US does not
want labelling or descriptors, so those consumers will never know
what they are consuming. [903852]
The hon. Gentleman makes an important point. Food labelling can
improve transparency, particularly in the retail sector, but of
course there are limitations in that around 50% of food goes into
the food services sector. That is why we will be addressing these
matters in our trade agreements.
(Central Ayrshire) (SNP)
[V]
Overuse of antibiotics in animal farming has been identified as
contributing to bacterial resistance. With American cattle
receiving 13 times the amount of antibiotics that UK herds
receive, how does the Minister plan to guard against importing
resistant bacteria in US beef? [903857]
There has been a global effort to tackle antimicrobial resistance
and, in particular, to reduce the use of antibiotics in
agriculture, especially the critically important antibiotics. The
UK is a leader in that and has adopted farm husbandry that has
made it possible to reduce the use of antibiotics. We have also
worked with international partners, including the United States,
to assist them to achieve the same.
