Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Australia Trade Agreement: Scottish Farming

Thursday 10 June 2021 · 3 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Amy Callaghan inquired about the potential economic impact of the proposed UK-Australia free trade agreement on Scottish farming, receiving a response that Scotland would benefit from reduced tariff barriers for its food and drink exports.
  • Richard Thomson questioned what minimum sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards and biosecurity measures the Government would enforce in the UK-Australia trade deal to protect producers and consumers, prompting a response that emphasized the need for agricultural support and the opportunity presented by trade.
  • Amy Callaghan wished the Speaker a happy birthday and brought up the issue of animal welfare standards, noting that the UK lacks specific legislation to ban meat from animals raised by inhumane methods prevalent in Australia, to which the response clarified that the UK would not compromise on its standards despite differing practices in Australia.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Amy Callaghan
Economy Brexit Business & Trade
Context

The proposed free trade agreement between the UK and Australia is under scrutiny for its potential impact on Scottish farming.

Question

What recent assessment she has made of the potential economic effect of the proposed free trade agreement between the UK and Australia on farming in Scotland?

Answer from Greg Hands (Minister for Investment)

This is a deal for the whole Union. Our scoping assessment found that Scotland will benefit in all modelled scenarios. Reducing tariff barriers for our world-class food and drink industry should help bolster exports of iconic Scottish goods to Australia, such as Scotch whisky, apparel and services, such as financial services. Once we accede to CPTPP, Scottish farmers will also gain access to the increasing middle class in Asia.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response did not provide a detailed analysis of economic effects on Scottish farming but instead focused on overall benefits and potential export opportunities.

How: This Is A Deal For The Whole Union, Reducing Tariff Barriers For Our World-Class Food And Drink Industry Should Help Bolster Exports

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Richard Thomson
Brexit Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Australia's red meat industry aims to double its sales by 2030, potentially at the expense of domestic producers and food safety.

Question

What absolute minimum SPS, bio-security and welfare standards will the Government insist on in any Australian trade deal to safeguard producers and consumers, and to ensure that our farmers are not simply the next industry to be thrown beneath the wheels of the Brexit bus?

Answer from Greg Hands (Minister for Investment)

I have met with NFU Scotland a few times in recent weeks. To be honest, it would be nice to hear the hon. Gentleman and his colleagues for once sticking up for agriculture in Scotland and the opportunities that come from trade, rather than being against every single trade agreement. Australia apparently exports a lot to Asia—75% of its beef exports, 70% of its lamb exports—and only 0.15% to the UK. There are strong reasons for that. The production costs, for beef in particular, are much higher in countries such as Japan and Korea than they are in either the UK or in Australia. Staged over time, tariff reductions and making sure that safeguards are in place, we are confident that we will have the ability to protect UK farmers from any unforeseen increases in Australian imports to this country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response did not specify minimum standards but discussed production costs and trade agreements' benefits.

How: I Have Met With Nfu Scotland A Few Times In Recent Weeks, There Are Strong Reasons For That

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Amy Callaghan
Brexit Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The UK does not have specific legislation banning meat from animals raised by inhumane methods, such as battery cages, which are permitted and used extensively in Australia.

Question

I wish you a very happy birthday, Mr Speaker. Currently, the UK does not have specific legislation to ban meat from animals raised by inhumane methods such as battery cages—methods that are utterly intolerable here but permitted and used extensively in Australia. The Department for International Trade has also never set out if or how it might inspect animal welfare and food standards in countries with which we may sign new post-Brexit trade deals. Does the Minister truly believe that the people of Scotland are prepared to see food on their supermarket shelves reared in appalling conditions, all for the additional 0.1% to 0.2% of GDP over 15 years as per his Department's own assessment?

Answer from Greg Hands (Minister for Investment)

I have never heard the SNP support any trade deal, ever. SNP Members even voted for a no-deal Brexit last December. The hon. Member mentioned standards. We have been absolutely clear that there will be no compromise on our standards. However, Australia, in its standards on animal welfare, is actually ranked five out of five by the World Organisation for Animal Health for its performance in veterinary services across 38 categories. The hon. Member talks about meeting our standards; our import standards remain high, and will be unchanged as a result of this or any other trade agreement. Australian produce—as, indeed, other produce—must continue to meet our high import standards.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response did not confirm specific legislation banning meat from inhumane methods but discussed Australia's animal welfare rankings and the UK's import standards remaining unchanged.

How: I Have Never Heard The Snp Support Any Trade Deal, Ever, Snp Members Even Voted For A No-Deal Brexit Last December

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Get updates like this by email