Oral Answers to Questions

Damian Hinds Excerpts

Thursday 19th November 2020 Commons Chamber

[Anthony Browne (South Cambridgeshire) (Con)]

What steps the Government are taking to maintain food and farming standards in future trade agreements.

[Damian Hinds (East Hampshire) (Con)]

What steps the Government are taking to maintain food and farming standards in future trade agreements.

[Duncan Baker (North Norfolk) (Con)]

What steps the Government are taking to maintain food and farming standards in future trade agreements.

--- Later in debate ---

[Greg Hands]

I thank my hon. Friend for that question. He is a reliable supporter of farmers in his constituency. The Agri-food trade and agriculture group will feed in during the negotiations. He also asked about the TAC, and I wish to use this occasion to praise its chairman, Tim Smith, for the excellent work that he has done so far, and in very good time.

[Damian Hinds]

Colleagues across the House welcome the news about the Trade and Agriculture Commission’s statutory footing. It will be a strong voice for our farmers, and it will also provide expert independent advice for this House as we consider the impact of each trade deal on agriculture. When does the Minister expect those amendments to be tabled, and for the Trade Bill to resume its progress?

[Greg Hands]

We plan to table that amendment to the Trade Bill on Report in the House of Lords. The scheduling of business is obviously a matter for business managers, but we intend the Bill to be completed by the end of the transition period.