Debates between Jonathan Reynolds and David Heath during the 2010-2015 Parliament

Thu 17th Jan 2013

Horsemeat (Supermarket Products)

Debate between Jonathan Reynolds and David Heath
Thursday 17th January 2013

(11 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Heath Portrait Mr Heath
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The hon. Lady makes an extremely good point. I am impressed at the speed with which Tesco has responded to what is clearly both a very embarrassing situation and a potentially damaging one. It is essential that retailers and processors rebuild trust in the products available in this country, and that the Government do whatever we can to support that. Only on that basis can we have a successful trade.

Jonathan Reynolds Portrait Jonathan Reynolds (Stalybridge and Hyde) (Lab/Co-op)
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Food manufacturing is an important part of the British economy and employs a lot of people in my constituency. The shadow Secretary of State is not undermining the industry by bringing those issues to the House; she is safeguarding its future by allowing people to have confidence in it. The Minister needs to tone down the rhetoric, tell us that you are on top of this issue, and let the British public know that they can have confidence in the regulatory system for which you are responsible.