Oral Answers to Questions

Alex Cunningham Excerpts

Thursday 25th January 2018 Commons Chamber

[Dr Coffey]

When the Government made the decision to have a six-year plan for funding, they dramatically changed the situation for householders and businesses. The decision allowed the Environment Agency to have long-term plans instead of having a year-to-year hand-to-mouth existence. The hon. Lady should welcome the fact that we have that in place, and we will be working on future budgets at the appropriate time.

[Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab)]

7. What steps he is taking to safeguard UK food safety and animal welfare standards in future trade deals.

[The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (George Eustice)]

The Government are proud of the high food safety and animal welfare standards that underpin our high-quality Great British produce. We have no intention of undercutting our own reputation for quality by lowering our food and animal welfare standards in pursuit of a trade deal.

[Alex Cunningham]

On that basis, then, does the Minister know whether his boss, a former Education Secretary, would be content to serve our schoolchildren American chlorinated chicken?

[George Eustice]

The point I would make to the hon. Gentleman is that, when we leave the European Union, the withdrawal Bill will bring across all existing EU regulations, including those on chlorinated chicken. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has said many times, animal welfare is the issue here, and the issue of chlorinated chicken can sometimes mask animal welfare concerns.