Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Australia and New Zealand FTAs: UK Food Sector

Thursday 21 July 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 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Kerry McCarthy asked about the impact of Australia and New Zealand free trade agreements on UK food sector employment.
  • The Minister responded that the trade deals are expected to increase bilateral trade by 53% with Australia and 59% with New Zealand.
  • The Minister invited McCarthy to write with specific details so the Department could provide a full answer to her assertions regarding the economic modelling.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Employment Brexit Business & Trade
Context

The MP is concerned about the impact of free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand on employment in the UK's food sector, given current labour shortages and rising costs.

Question

What assessment has been made with Cabinet colleagues of the impact of the Australia and New Zealand free trade agreements on employment in the UK food sector?

Answer from Penny Mordaunt

The trade deals with Australia and New Zealand are expected to increase bilateral trade by 53% and 59% respectively in the long run.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Impact of free trade agreements on employment in the UK food sector

How: Did Not Address Employment Impact

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Q2 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Brexit Foreign Affairs Business & Trade
Context

The MP is questioning the Foreign Secretary's trustworthiness based on her ignoring advice from officials that the Australia and New Zealand trade agreements would negatively impact UK food and farming sectors.

Question

Given that when the Foreign Secretary was Secretary of State for International Trade she ignored advice from her officials that the Australia and New Zealand trade agreements would shrink our food and farming sectors, can she be trusted to run the country?

Answer from Penny Mordaunt

If the hon. Lady would like to write with the specific details, I am sure the Department will be able to provide a full answer to her assertions. The economic modelling was based on full employment, which does not reflect the change in employment between sectors and, critically, does not estimate jobs lost or gained in any sector.

Not addressed: Can the Foreign Secretary be trusted with running the country?

How: Suggested Writing For A Full Answer, Referenced Economic Modelling Limitations

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