EU-UK SPS Agreement: Food-related Standards Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Lord Hannay of Chiswick
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EU-UK SPS Agreement: Food-related Standards
Lord Hannay of Chiswick Excerpts(2 months, 1 week ago)
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Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
I am sure that the noble Lord will be wanting to take part in the debates on the European partnership Bill when it arrives, and I imagine that that is the time for those discussions.
Lord Hannay of Chiswick (CB)
My Lords, can the Minister confirm that what the Government are negotiating on SPS could bring quite substantial benefits to the bureaucratic problems met by trade between Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom?
Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
I agree with the noble Lord. An important component of the negotiations and one of the reasons why we are looking to agree a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement, particularly on agri-foods, is making it easier, cheaper and quicker for British businesses to trade with the EU. In the business meeting that I had in Northern Ireland last week, there was a very positive response from businesses regarding the potential opportunities that will arise from this.