Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and David Morris

Thursday 5th May 2016 Commons Chamber

[David Morris (Morecambe and Lunesdale) (Con)]

1. What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Great British Food campaign in promoting British food and drink.

[The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Elizabeth Truss)]

We set up the Great British Food Unit to drive export growth and help companies identify new opportunities. The British brand is world renowned for heritage and quality. In April, I was in the US championing products from the great British curry to gin and British beef and lamb.

[David Morris]

I thank my right hon. Friend for that impressive response. Britain is famous for its seafood, and the delicacy of Morecambe bay shrimps, from my constituency, is internationally renowned. It is nice to know that the Government are doing all that they possibly can to ensure that such dishes are on international dinner plates; will she elaborate a little on what she is doing to make sure that they are internationally renowned?

[Elizabeth Truss]

I agree that Morecambe bay shrimps are a fine product, along with other great Lancashire products, such as Bury black pudding, the Eccles cake and the hotpot. May I make a suggestion? Yorkshire has three protected food names, whereas Lancashire has only one. At the Department we would be very keen to help Lancashire producers get that protected status, so that they can become world renowned, too.