Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jeremy Quin and George Eustice

Thursday 2nd March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Jeremy Quin (Horsham) (Con)]

3. What recent assessment the Government has made of the effectiveness of its support to British farmers in increasing their share of the domestic food market.

[The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (George Eustice)]

Mr Speaker, I apologise for being a little late. I was at the Gulfood exhibition in the Gulf and my plane was sadly stranded because of fog.

The Government want the UK to grow and sell more British food and drink. Through the introduction of a new plan for Government procurement, we have sought to enable Departments to source more local food, and recent successes include the Ministry of Justice implementing the plan in prisons. Last year, exports of food and drink increased by 9% to £20 billion.

[Jeremy Quin]

West Sussex is home to our finest food and drink, including the superb Sussex Charmer, produced by our exceptional Rudgwick cheesemakers. What further opportunities does the Minister foresee to promote high-quality, well-branded food of local provenance?