Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 24 Jun 2020
Protection of UK Food Standards
"I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for making that important point. It is important to record that the UK Government have been very clear that they will never compromise on those food standards.
In Scotland, Food Standards Scotland will continue to ensure that all food imports comply with the …..."John Lamont - View Speech
View all John Lamont (Con - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) contributions to the debate on: Protection of UK Food Standards
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 24 Jun 2020
Protection of UK Food Standards
"I give way to the hon. Gentleman from the highlands...."John Lamont - View Speech
View all John Lamont (Con - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) contributions to the debate on: Protection of UK Food Standards
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 24 Jun 2020
Protection of UK Food Standards
"I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for making the crucial point. Without doubt, we produce food of an exceptionally high value. I do not think that consumers in this country always recognise the value of the food we produce, and how lucky we are to live in a country …..."John Lamont - View Speech
View all John Lamont (Con - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) contributions to the debate on: Protection of UK Food Standards
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 24 Jun 2020
Protection of UK Food Standards
"I will move on to that point shortly. I have had a very robust conversation with NFU Scotland. It claims to support trade and to support the amendment to the Agriculture Bill that would have stopped our ability to do that trade. It cannot on the one hand say that …..."John Lamont - View Speech
View all John Lamont (Con - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) contributions to the debate on: Protection of UK Food Standards
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 24 Jun 2020
Protection of UK Food Standards
"Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I hope that the hon. Member for Edinburgh West (Christine Jardine) explains to her constituents that she voted for an amendment that would have restricted the choice for consumers in supermarkets and stopped Scottish farmers and other businesses exporting. She would have stopped them doing …..."John Lamont - View Speech
View all John Lamont (Con - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) contributions to the debate on: Protection of UK Food Standards
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 24 Jun 2020
Protection of UK Food Standards
"I completely agree with the hon. Member. To reiterate my earlier point, UK imports and food standards have not changed as a consequence of our leaving the European Union. Cabinet Ministers have committed at the Dispatch Box to maintaining food standards. The Prime Minister is committed to them, too. It …..."John Lamont - View Speech
View all John Lamont (Con - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) contributions to the debate on: Protection of UK Food Standards
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 24 Jun 2020
Protection of UK Food Standards
"My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Despite all the misinformation from SNP Members, the reality—the facts—are somewhat different. If there is another trade agreement that allows one country to impose its production standards on another, show it to me. If I am wrong about the WTO rules, I am happy …..."John Lamont - View Speech
View all John Lamont (Con - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) contributions to the debate on: Protection of UK Food Standards
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 24 Jun 2020
Protection of UK Food Standards
"The UK Government Ministers who represent us in these negotiations have made it very clear that food standards will not be reduced as a consequence of any trade deals. It is very interesting that the hon. Lady has not disputed my points or provided any evidence to support the case …..."John Lamont - View Speech
View all John Lamont (Con - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) contributions to the debate on: Protection of UK Food Standards
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 24 Jun 2020
Protection of UK Food Standards
"Welcome to the world of Scottish politics, Madam Deputy Speaker.
To continue, those who were advocating for those amendments were, at best, naive about the consequences of their actions or, at worst, reckless with the future of not just our food exporters, but every other business that hopes to export …..."John Lamont - View Speech
View all John Lamont (Con - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) contributions to the debate on: Protection of UK Food Standards
Written Question
Friday 1st May 2020
Asked by:
John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question
to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking with the food retail sector to ensure continuity of food supply.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
The Government has well-established ways of working with the food industry during disruption to supply situations. The Government has regular engagement across the industry who continue to monitor the situation closely, taking the necessary steps to address issues where they arise.
Following a significant spike in consumer demand, we have now seen stock levels in supermarkets improve. To support the food sector, the Government temporarily relaxed competition law and regulations relating to driver hours and delivery times so that the sector could work together to keep putting food on the shelves.
We welcome the actions that industry is taking, including hiring more staff, and prioritising delivery slots and shopping times for those that need them most. We are grateful for the extensive support and positive collaboration that the industry has shown. We will continue these conversations to keep food supply chains flowing and make sure people have the food and products they need.
Thanks to rapidly increasing testing capacity, the government has expanded eligibility to all essential workers with symptoms of coronavirus, including those working in the food and drink industry.