European Union: Court of Justice

Lord Krebs Excerpts

Wednesday 26th February 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

I will write to the noble Baroness with the details of the meeting dates, because I do not have them to hand, but I reassure noble Lords that, since this Government came to power, we have had nearly 70 ministerial-level meetings with our opposite numbers. That is in addition to the day-to-day official conversations and I know, from the conversations that I have been party to with regard to the Windsor Framework, that those conversations are regular: in fact, daily. This is all part of how we reset relations with our closest trading partner.

[Lord Krebs (CB)]

My Lords, could the Minister update us on the Government’s intentions with regard to sanitary and phytosanitary standards? We know that the current arrangements impose a huge burden on the food industry, which is our largest manufacturing sector. If, as she says, the Government wish to do what is best for British business and British people, surely we should align our sanitary and phytosanitary standards with the European Union.

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

The Government, as we were clear in our manifesto, are committed to pursuing an SPS agreement that could reduce trade friction and bring benefits to both the UK and the EU. The UK and the EU are like-minded partners with similarly high standards. We have been clear that an SPS agreement could boost trade and deliver benefits on both sides. I hope that reassures the noble Lord.