Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Seed Potato Industry

Wednesday 27 January 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministers and officials from the Department are in regular contact with counterparts from other departments to support the Scottish seed potato industry.
  • Duncan Baker expressed concern about the impact of the EU export ban on seed potatoes in his constituency of North Norfolk.
  • The Secretary of State assured Duncan Baker that everything possible is being done to find a solution for the export issue.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Duncan Baker
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The Scottish seed potato industry faces challenges due to export bans imposed by the European Union. This ban affects businesses in constituencies such as North Norfolk.

Question

What recent discussions has he had with Cabinet colleagues on support for the Scottish seed potato industry?

Answer from Alister Jack

Ministers and officials from my Department are in regular contact with counterparts from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The UK has applied for third country equivalency to overcome the ban on the export of seed potatoes to the European Union. We believe we have a strong case as British standards currently match the EU's, and Scotland in particular has world-leading plant health provenance.

Answered
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Q2 Duncan Baker
Brexit Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The ban on exporting seed potatoes to the EU affects businesses in North Norfolk. The issue of food security and flexibility for the sector is critical.

Question

I thank the Secretary of State for that optimism. Even businesses in my constituency of North Norfolk are affected by the ban on exporting seed potatoes into the EU. It is wonderful to have a deal, but in my part of the world agriculture is an enormous way of life, so can he assure me that everything is being done to obtain an agreement on seed potatoes for Scotland and all of the UK, to give food security and flexibility to the sector and to protect our farmers and growers?

Answer from Alister Jack

I know this is an important issue for my hon. Friend's constituency, as it is for many farmers in Scotland, and I can confirm that absolutely everything is being done to find a solution.

Partly answered

Not addressed: He did not provide specific details or timelines about securing the agreement on seed potatoes.

How: Everything Is Being Done

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