Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

UK Food Exports: Promotion

Thursday 16 June 2022 · 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 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department works with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board to promote cheese exports in the Middle East and China.
  • The Prime Minister expects continued efforts to push food and beverage exports.
  • UK cheese exports were 565 million in 2021, with significant increases to China and Saudi Arabia.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Theresa Villiers Con
Business & Trade
Context

The question arises from a need to promote UK-produced cheese internationally, particularly in the Middle East and China.

Question

What steps she is taking to promote UK food exports around the world. I am concerned about the international promotion of British cheese being produced by farmers across all nations.

Answer from Mike Freer

The Department works with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board to promote cheese exports in the middle east and China. We have over 100 specialists in food, beverage and agriculture, and newly appointed agri-commissioners in key markets. The Prime Minister expects us to continue pushing food and beverage exports; UK's cheese exports were £565 million in 2021 with a 3.9% increase to China. Exports to Saudi Arabia are up 53%, and to the Gulf, they are up 16.2%.

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Q2 Theresa Villiers Con
Business & Trade
Context

The question pertains to the international promotion of British cheese and seeks specifics on export efforts in China, India, and other markets.

Question

Mr Speaker, I hope you and the whole House will agree with me when I say that the cheese produced by the farmers of the four nations of this great country is the best in the world. So, I want to hear that cheese is at the heart of our trade and export policy. Let us hear about the action being taken to ensure that more people in the middle east, China, India and across the world are eating our Great British cheese.

Answer from Mike Freer

The Prime Minister expects us to continue pushing food and beverage exports. UK's cheese exports were £565 million in 2021 with a 3.9% increase to China, up 53% to Saudi Arabia, and up 16.2% to the Gulf.

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