Oral Answers to Questions

Charles Walker Excerpts

Thursday 11th January 2024 Commons Chamber

[John Spellar (Warley) (Lab)]

6. If the Commission will take steps to increase purchases of Australian wine for sale in the House of Commons.

[Sir Charles Walker (Broxbourne)]

The wine sold in the House of Commons is reviewed annually, with the next review due in the spring of 2024. The right hon. Gentleman’s question specifically relates to Australian wine; I understand that a Chardonnay and a Shiraz are available, compared with three English wines, so Australian wine is represented on the wine list in the Palace of Westminster.

[John Spellar]

As part of a dispute over covid, China imposed particularly punishing tariffs on Australian wine, damaging that industry. May I urge the House of Commons Commission to stand with our Australian friends and allies, and prioritise buying Australian wine and encouraging its use in our venues to make it clear that bullying does not pay?

[Sir Charles Walker]

Of course, if colleagues here wish to prioritise the purchase of Australian wine from the wine list, I encourage them to do so, but I also remind them that we have very good English wines on the wine list as well. More generally, I am sure the nation has heard the right hon. Gentleman’s call to arms, so when we are out in the supermarkets stocking our own shelves, perhaps we should all be mindful of buying two or three bottles of Australian wine as well—seriously—to show solidarity with our Australian friends and their growers.

The hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, was asked—