Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Simon Baynes

Thursday 25th February 2021 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

I am sure that the right hon. Lady, being an avid student of the CPTPP, will have read the fact that the same standards on SPS—sanitary and phytosanitary—are in the CPTPP as are in the World Trade Organisation, which the UK has already signed up to. I have been very clear that in every trade deal we sign, we will not lower our excellent standards in the United Kingdom, and we will not expose our farmers to unfair competition.

[Simon Baynes (Clwyd South) (Con)]

What recent assessment she has made of the potential effect of her Department’s trade policies on growth for British businesses.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Simon Baynes

Thursday 14th January 2021 Commons Chamber

[Simon Baynes (Clwyd South) (Con)]

What steps her Department has taken to promote food and drink exports from across the UK.

[The Secretary of State for International Trade (Elizabeth Truss)]

We are launching a new food and drink export campaign this year, which will encourage British businesses to take advantage of the deals we have struck, covering 63 countries around the world. As part of our Japan deal, we will be putting forward 77 geographical indications to the Japanese system, including Welsh lamb.

[Simon Baynes [V]]

The Prime Minister’s Brexit deal is a great achievement, but could my right hon. Friend help with problems being experienced by companies delivering goods to Northern Ireland, such as dairy wholesaler Spear UK in Llandrillo in my constituency of Clwyd South, which saw delays last week due to additional paperwork and permanent extra costs for the customs agent and veterinary oversight?

[Elizabeth Truss]

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster gave a statement on this issue yesterday, and he is working hard with the Brexit business taskforce to deal with those issues. We also have the trader support scheme for Northern Ireland. I am pleased to say that freight volumes for Northern Ireland ports are at normal levels for this time of year, and there are no significant queues. Supermarkets are reporting healthy levels of supplies, but I certainly will pass on my hon. Friend’s issue to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to ensure that it is resolved.