Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Withdrawal from EU Single Market: Food Production

Thursday 23 February 2023 · 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 have delivered the first free trade agreement the EU has ever reached based on zero tariffs and zero quotas.
  • Our recent food strategy sets out how we will support a prosperous agrifood sector.
  • The Government have committed 2.4 billion in the manifesto to support farmers.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Neale Hanvey
Brexit Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The question addresses the consequences of leaving the EU single market, focusing on trends in food production levels.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the impact of the UK's withdrawal from the EU single market on trends in the level of food production?

Answer from Mark Spencer

The Government have delivered the first free trade agreement the EU has ever reached based on zero tariffs and zero quotas, and our recent food strategy sets out how we will support a prosperous agrifood sector.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific assessment of impact on food production trends was not provided

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Neale Hanvey
Brexit Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The National Farmers Union of Scotland president highlighted the unprecedented challenges faced by Scottish farmers due to Brexit. Last year, farmers in the constituency expressed frustration over lack of clarity regarding a replacement for the common agricultural policy and decreasing beef herds.

Question

National Farmers Union of Scotland president Martin Kennedy recently highlighted the unprecedented period of change, cost and uncertainty for Scotland's farmers and crofters driven by Brexit and now compounded by energy costs and fertiliser costs. Last year, I met farmers from across my constituency. They were frustrated by a lack of clarity on a replacement for the common agricultural policy, and our beef herds are now decreasing in numbers. This Government were elected on a pledge of matching EU funding pound for pound, but that has not materialised. Where is the money and when is it coming?

Answer from Mark Spencer

That simply is not true; £2.4 billion is the budget we have committed to in the manifesto, and we are making sure, through this Parliament, that that money continues to go to farmers. Lots of the issues the hon. Gentleman raises are devolved; his own Government are not delivering for the farmers in Scotland. In England, we are rolling out those plans—grants for farmers to invest in their businesses, and help to assist with their environmental schemes and to make sure that they are prosperous.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific timeline of funding distribution was not provided

How: His Own Government Are Not Delivering For The Farmers In Scotland

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Get updates like this by email