Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Australia Trade Agreement: Bishop Auckland

Thursday 10 June 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 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government are taking steps to ensure UK farmers and food producers in Bishop Auckland can benefit from an FTA with Australia.
  • The Secretary of State visited Grange Hill farm in Bishop Auckland last summer, where farmers produce high-quality beef.
  • An FTA with Australia will act as a gateway to the CPTPP, opening up new export opportunities for British agrifood products.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Dehenna Davison
Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP is concerned about the benefits of a free trade agreement between the UK and Australia for local farmers and food producers in Bishop Auckland.

Question

What steps has her Department taken to ensure that (a) farmers and (b) food producers in Bishop Auckland can benefit from an FTA with Australia?

Answer from Greg Hands

The Government are clear that any deal with Australia must work for UK farmers and producers. We will use a range of tools to defend British farming. As well as improving access to the Australian market, an FTA will act as a gateway to CPTPP, creating unprecedented new export opportunities for British farmers and producers.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps taken to ensure benefits for Bishop Auckland's farmers and food producers were not detailed.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Dehenna Davison
Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP highlights a visit to Grange Hill farm in Bishop Auckland where farmers produce high-quality beef, seeking information on how an FTA with Australia will benefit local beef farmers.

Question

Last summer, the Secretary of State visited Grange Hill farm in Bishop Auckland, where leading farmers John and Jane are rightly proud of the fabulous beef that they produce. Will my right hon. Friend please tell the House how the gateway to the CPTPP—a deal with Australia—will open up new markets for British beef farmers?

Answer from Greg Hands

I know that the Secretary of State greatly enjoyed her visit last year to the farms in my hon. Friend's constituency. CPTPP is a great opportunity. I referenced in an earlier question growing Asian demand for products such as meat and other British agrifood products. We see there being tremendous opportunities in that fast-growing market—13% of global GDP across four continents. This is a real opportunity to be able to sell British farming produce to those fast-growing Asian and American markets.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific benefits for local beef farmers were not detailed, focusing instead on broader opportunities.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)