Horsemeat (Food Fraud)

Jacob Rees-Mogg Excerpts
Monday 11th February 2013

(11 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Owen Paterson Portrait Mr Paterson
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No, we operate on professional advice.

Jacob Rees-Mogg Portrait Jacob Rees-Mogg (North East Somerset) (Con)
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My right hon. Friend has told us that food regulation is an area of European competence. Some of us may think it an area of European incompetence. As a result of European failures, it seems that my constituents are getting disgusting food—whether or not it is a health risk, it is revolting. I wonder whether the Secretary of State will consider emergency legislation, notwithstanding the European Communities Act 1972, to allow us to stop importing disgusting food.

Owen Paterson Portrait Mr Paterson
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I look forward to sitting down with my hon. Friend and coming up with a legal definition of “disgusting food”. Let me be more positive and refer to my earlier replies: there is splendid food grown in my hon. Friend’s part of England, and I would strongly recommend his constituents to buy local.