House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement
Update on Defra sectors
21 April 2020 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Proposed by George Eustice Con Camborne and Redruth
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
At a glance
Key points
- The Government has introduced a 10 million support scheme for the fishing sector.
- Competition law has been relaxed for dairy processors to support the sector.
- Guidance and platforms such as WasteSupport have been developed for waste management.
Issue summary
The statement addresses the impact of coronavirus on essential service sectors such as food supply, water and waste, and outlines specific actions taken by the government to support these sectors.
Action requested
Beyond general business support schemes, the Government has introduced a £10 million fishing sector support scheme, relaxed competition law for dairy processors, encouraged supermarkets to promote certain meat products, and developed guidance and platforms like WasteSupport for waste management. The statement also mentions ongoing monitoring of markets and resources within these sectors.
Key facts
- The fishing sector received a new £10 million support scheme.
- Between 5 and 10 per cent of total milk production is affected by the food service trade disruption.
- Competition law was relaxed to allow dairy processors to work together voluntarily.
- WasteSupport platform facilitates sharing of resources between local authorities and commercial operators.
- The Government has published guidance for prioritising waste streams.