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Welsh Food: Protected Status
15 December 2020
Lead MP
Virginia Crosbie
Responding Minister
Victoria Prentis
Tags
EconomyBrexitBusiness & TradeAgriculture & Rural Affairs
Word Count: 2495
Other Contributors: 3
At a Glance
Virginia Crosbie raised concerns about welsh food: protected status in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Crosbie asks the Minister to confirm continued investment in the new UK geographical indication scheme. She also requests that her Department collaborates closely with the Department for International Trade to support food producers and bring meaningful benefits post-Brexit.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Virginia Crosbie is concerned about the future of Welsh food and protected status post-Brexit. She highlights that Anglesey's agricultural industry plays a crucial role in feeding Wales, with significant contributions from farmers such as Gwilym Williams and Will Edwards. The constituency has a long history of producing high-quality food, exemplified by events like the Anglesey County Show which attracts visitors for its diverse range of Welsh products. She mentions that Welsh businesses have achieved a turnover of more than £22 billion in the hospitality and food sector, with 10 out of the most recent 12 GI applications originating from Wales.
Ben Lake
PC
Ceredigion Preseli
Congratulated the hon. Member on securing the debate and agreed with her on the importance of protected indicators, raising concerns about applications for Welsh produce such as Gower salt marsh lamb and Cambrian meat being unable to complete the European certification process.
Congratulated the hon. Friend on securing the debate and agreed that protected status for food and drink can be a source of great community pride as well as an economic benefit, mentioning the Vale of Clwyd Denbigh plum receiving protected designation of origin status.
Nusrat Ghani
Con
Sussex Weald
Nusrat Ghani briefly remarked that the debate was getting closer to being relevant.
Government Response
Victoria Prentis
Government Response
It is a great pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, for the first time, Ms Ghani, and an enormous pleasure to speak in this very important debate. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Ynys Môn (Virginia Crosbie) on securing this debate on a fascinating topic. Wales is home to the UK's highest concentration of protected food and drink products, with a total of 16 protected products. The Government will launch the UK GI schemes on 1 January, ensuring that all existing UK and EU GI products continue to receive protection under the new schemes. All current UK GIs, including Welsh products, will also continue to receive protection in the EU and through future international trade agreements. Overall, the UK's GI products represent about 25% of UK food and drink export value, which was about £6 billion last year.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.