Debates between Earl Howe and Lord Beith during the 2017-2019 Parliament

Thu 4th Apr 2019

Upland Farming

Debate between Earl Howe and Lord Beith
Thursday 4th April 2019

(5 years, 7 months ago)

Lords Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Earl Howe Portrait The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe) (Con)
- Hansard - -

My Lords, I am sure we can hear from the noble Lord, Lord Cunningham, but it is the turn of the Liberal Democrats.

Lord Beith Portrait Lord Beith
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

My Lords, as several Peers have acknowledged, upland farmers make a massive contribution to the care of our hill areas. However, the character and community of those areas will depend on upland farmers being more than merely park-keepers. Does the Minister recognise that if Brexit leads to very high tariffs for lamb exports to Europe, and massive imports from new trade deals with New Zealand, it could spell the end of hill livestock farming? That is really dangerous for the hill areas.