12:00
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 27 October.
10:10
To ask the hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Commissioners have made of the impact of the covid-19 outbreak on trends in the level of financial donations to the Church.
voted No - in line with the party majority
One of 210 Conservative No votes vs 2 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 3 Noes - 336
The hon. Member makes a good point. I urge the UK Government to work with all the devolved Governments to …
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward proposals to reintroduce …
From 27 April 2021, Member of the British Horseracing Authority Whip Review Steering Group (2021/22). This is an unpaid role. …
Division Voting information
Neil Hudson voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 13 Conservative No votes vs 341 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 351 Noes - 276
Neil Hudson voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Conservative No votes vs 354 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 363 Noes - 267
Neil Hudson voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 11 Conservative No votes vs 344 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 353 Noes - 277
Neil Hudson voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 4 Conservative No votes vs 353 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 353 Noes - 270
Neil Hudson voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 6 Conservative No votes vs 330 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 331 Noes - 272
Neil Hudson voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 14 Conservative No votes vs 327 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 332 Noes - 279
Neil Hudson voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 41 Conservative No votes vs 47 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 55 Noes - 52
Neil Hudson voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 12 Conservative Aye votes vs 323 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 263 Noes - 326
Neil Hudson voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Conservative Aye votes vs 335 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 251 Noes - 337
Neil Hudson voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 22 Conservative Aye votes vs 326 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 277 Noes - 328
Neil Hudson voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Conservative No votes vs 299 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 300 Noes - 55
Debates during the 2019 Parliament
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
Sparring Partners
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(8 debate interactions)
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union
(8 debate interactions)
(6 debate interactions)
Department Debates
(21 debate contributions)
(10 debate contributions)
(9 debate contributions)
(6 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(564 words contributed)
(524 words contributed)
(90 words contributed)
(76 words contributed)
Penrith and The Border Petitions
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
of 17,596 signatures (0.67%)
of 53,500 signatures (0.30%)
of 39,281 signatures (0.26%)
of 49,404 signatures (0.21%)
of 77,527 signatures (0.19%)
of 364,748 signatures (0.07%)
of 380 signatures (59.21%)
of 142,923 signatures (0.12%)
of 102,245 signatures (0.16%)
of 126,475 signatures (0.13%)
Petition Closed
Stop the rising number of ear-cropped dogs in the UK
Gov Responded - 9 Mar 2021 Debated on - 7 Jun 2021 View Dr Neil Hudson's petition debate contributionsclosed 2 months ago
Leading veterinary and welfare bodies are concerned by the alarming rise in ear-cropped dogs in the UK. Ear cropping is illegal in the UK and an unnecessary, painful mutilation with no welfare benefit. The practice involves cutting off part of the ear flap, often without anaesthesia or pain relief.
Petition Closed
Ban the exploitative import of young puppies for sale in the UK.
Gov Responded - 8 Sep 2020 Debated on - 7 Jun 2021 View Dr Neil Hudson's petition debate contributionsclosed 10 months ago
Plenty of dogs from UK breeders & rescues need homes. Transporting young pups long distances is often stressful, before being sold for ridiculous prices to unsuspecting dog-lovers. Government must adjust current laws, ban this unethical activity on welfare grounds & protect these poor animals ASAP.
Petition Closed
The UK should ban the importation of Shark Fins.
Gov Responded - 3 Nov 2020 Debated on - 7 Jun 2021 View Dr Neil Hudson's petition debate contributionsclosed 1 year, 1 month ago
Now that we have left the EU, the UK has the ability to finally stop the importation of Shark Fins. They had previously stated that 'Whilst in the EU, it is not possible to unilaterally ban the import of shark fins into the UK.'
Latest EDMs signed by Neil Hudson
Commons initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Neil Hudson, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
Neil Hudson has not been granted any Urgent Questions
Neil Hudson has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
Neil Hudson has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
Neil Hudson has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
29 Written Questions in the current parliament
(View all written questions)1 Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Questions
(View all Neil Hudson's DCMS questions)The tech and digital sector has really stepped up to the challenges posed by the pandemic, which has seen tech adoption reportedly advancing 10 years in 2 months.
TO support them in this vital work, the Government Future Fund has distributed over £1bn in loans to over 1000 companies. Our local digital skills partnerships are helping to address tech companies workforce and skills needs.
21 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Questions
(View all Neil Hudson's Defra questions)The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill was introduced in Parliament on 8 June. The Bill allows us to protect the welfare of pets by introducing restrictions to crack down on the low welfare movements of pets into Great Britain and includes powers to introduce new restrictions on pet travel and on the commercial import of pets on welfare grounds, via secondary legislation.
The Government launched a consultation on 21 August on our proposed restrictions to the commercial and non-commercial movement of pets into Great Britain, including our proposal to ban the commercial and non-commercial movement of puppies under the age of six months into Great Britain. We will take into account the views of the public and will continue to work closely with stakeholders to ensure that our final measures are well considered and are guided by the latest evidence.
Defra has no immediate plans to change the import health requirements in relation to rabies for pets entering Great Britain. Recent quantitative risk assessments have concluded that the risk of a pet animal with rabies entering the UK under the pet travel rules is very low. Defra continues to monitor the disease situation carefully and our future policy will be guided by risk assessment.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra has no immediate plans to amend the tapeworm requirements for dogs, cats and ferrets entering Great Britain. However, we remain aware of the concerns around tapeworm and our future policy will be guided by risk assessment.
There are no plans to introduce tapeworm treatment to imports of other small animals.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Tick surveillance has shown that tick distribution and abundance is changing throughout the UK for many reasons, including habitat and climate change. Small numbers of localised infestations with non-native tick species have been reported in recent years. For these reasons, Defra strongly encourages pet owners to treat their pets to safeguard their animals against ticks and tick-transmitted diseases when travelling abroad.
Defra has no immediate plans to amend the tick controls for dogs, cats or ferrets entering into Great Britain. However, we remain aware of the concerns around ticks and tick-borne disease, and future policy will be guided by risk assessment.
There are no plans to introduce tick treatment to imports of other small animals.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Prior to 2021 TRACES (Trade Control and Expert System) was used to record imports of animal/animal product movements into the UK. TRACES is a European Commission system employed by EU member states to facilitate and record animal movements into and throughout the EU.
Following the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU, all imports are notified via IPAFFs with the relevant information required. The data collected previously under TRACES and now IPAFFS covers all commercially imported cats and dogs, including commercial kittens, rescue cats and kittens, research cats and unaccompanied pets. The number of animals imported into the Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) is recorded on these systems but not the age of animals. Therefore, unfortunately we are unable to provide this level of data.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We operate one of the most rigorous and robust pet travel checking regimes in Europe. All non-commercial dogs, cats and ferrets entering Great Britain on approved routes (every route other than ROI and NI) under the Pet Travel rules undergo 100% documentary and identity checks by authorised pet checkers.
There are numerous approved routes into the UK by which pets can travel. These diverse routes are managed by independent pet checkers and by a variety of carriers including ferries, air travel and trains. Pet checkers and carriers independently record the number of how many cats, dogs, ferrets and assistance dogs have travelled and are required to record additional details of the animal where non-compliance is discovered. They may also independently record identifying details for their own records.
The data regarding the Pet Travel Rules is based on information provided by checkers employed by approved carriers of pet animals. Raw data on the number of animals travelled via each authorised pet checker or carrier is provided to the Animal and Plant Health Agency and Border Force to enable effective enforcement action. This new system, with carrier captured data, records the number of pet animals entering the country more accurately than the previous legacy database (Pets database) which was initially deployed in 2006, but it is not a requirement to record the age of the animals travelling on those routes. Therefore, we cannot provide this data.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has completed a report in the Trade Control and Expert System and the Post Import Management System, and has not identified any matching consignments of these imports for 2020 or 2021.
When the TPA was renegotiated between the UK, the Republic of Ireland and France it was decided that there would be no requirement for certification and/or electronic moves to be recorded between the UK and the Republic of Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and the UK. Therefore, there are no records held on the number of TPA equidae moves between the UK and the Republic of Ireland on any APHA database or TRACES.
This was also the case for all other moves of unregistered Equidae between to UK and Republic of Ireland. As part of the TPA renegotiations, it was determined that no paperwork was required for these moves either. Therefore APHA does not hold any records on these movements.
From 1 January 2021, these agreements ceased and export health certification is required for all Equidae moves between the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
APHA have competed a report in the Trade Control and Expert System and the Post Import Management System, and have not identified any matching consignments of these imports for 2020 or 2021.
As dogs from Northern Ireland moving to Great Britain do not require any notification or health certification, we are not able to provide any data regarding this.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The number of dogs imported from the EU to the UK from January 2020 to February 2021 are as follows:
Month | Total Number of Dogs |
Jan 2020 | 3810 |
Feb 2020 | 3391 |
Mar 2020 | 1987 |
April 2020 | 934 |
May 2020 | 4,90 |
June 2020 | 5202 |
July 2020 | 6309 |
Aug 2020 | 5273 |
Sept 2020 | 6826 |
Oct 2020 | 7031 |
Nov 2020 | 6944 |
Dec 2020 | 8293 |
Jan 2021 | 1225 |
Feb 2021 | 5923 |
This data was extracted from the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES). TRACES is a European Commission system employed by EU member states to facilitate and record animal/animal product movements into and throughout the EU.
This response has been compiled by the Animal and Plant Health Agency from data provided by third parties, and as such is reliant on the providers for the accuracy of the information.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Animal and Plant Health Agency has completed a report in the Trade Control and Expert System and has not identified any matching consignments of these imports for 2020.
The following information is for 2021:
Month | Total Number of Equines |
Jan 2021 | 91 |
Feb 2021 | 235 |
There are no records of movements for 2020. The UK, Republic of Ireland and France all formed the Tripartite Agreement and there was no requirement for certification or electronic moves to be recorded. From 1 January 2021,this agreement ceased and export health certification is required for all Equidae moves between the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The number of live animals imported from the Republic of Ireland to the UK from January 2020 to February 2021 are as follows:
Month | Total Number of Live Animals |
Jan 2020 | 1,250,272 |
Feb 2020 | 406,040 |
Mar 2020 | 7,757,702 |
April 2020 | 9,117,860 |
May 2020 | 7,263,557 |
June 2020 | 2,868,940 |
July 2020 | 1,108,790 |
Aug 2020 | 1,341,426 |
Sept 2020 | 620,357 |
Oct 2020 | 207,214 |
Nov 2020 | 793,702 |
Dec 2020 | 725,924 |
Jan 2021 | 2,107,612 |
Feb 2021 | 2,649,697 |
This data was extracted from the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES). TRACES is a European Commission system employed by EU member states to facilitate and record animal/animal product movements into and throughout the EU.
This response has been compiled by the Animal and Plant Health Agency from data provided by third parties, and as such is reliant on the providers for the accuracy of the information.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The number of equines exported from the UK to France from January 2020 to February 2021 are as follows:
Month | Equines travelled on an ITAHC or EHC | Equines travelled on a DOCOM | Total |
Jan 2020 | 71 | 106 | 177 |
Feb 2020 | 48 | 120 | 168 |
Mar 2020 | 58 | 114 | 172 |
April 2020 | 26 | 115 | 141 |
May 2020 | 18 | 76 | 94 |
June 2020 | 30 | 418 | 448 |
July 2020 | 29 | 337 | 366 |
Aug 2020 | 91 | 198 | 289 |
Sept 2020 | 36 | 195 | 231 |
Oct 2020 | 96 | 274 | 370 |
Nov 2020 | 61 | 78 | 139 |
Dec 2020 | 82 | 241 | 323 |
Jan 2021 | 8 | N/A | 8 |
Feb 2021 | 79 | N/A | 89 |
This data was extracted from the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES). TRACES is a European Commission system employed by EU member states to facilitate and record animal/animal product movements into and throughout the EU.
This response has been compiled by the Animal and Plant Health Agency from data provided by third parties, and as such is reliant on the providers for the accuracy of the information.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The number of equines exported from the UK to the Republic of Ireland from January 2020 to February 2021 are as follows:
Month | Total Number of Equines |
Jan 2021 | 88 |
Feb 2021 | 471 |
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has completed a report in Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) and has not identified any matching consignments of these imports for 2020.
There are no records of movements for 2020. The UK, Republic of Ireland and France all formed the Tripartite Agreement and there was no requirement for certification and/or electronic moves to be recorded. From 1 January 2021, this agreement ceased and export health certification is required for all Equidae moves between the UK and Republic of Ireland.
This data was extracted from the TRACES. TRACES is a European Commission system employed by EU member states to facilitate and record animal/animal product movements into and throughout the EU.
This response has been compiled by APHA from data provided by third parties, and as such is reliant on the providers for the accuracy of the information.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The number of live animals imported from the EU to the UK from January 2020 to February 2021 are as follows:
Month | Total Number of Live Animals |
Jan 2020 | 1,480,131 |
Feb 2020 | 870,907 |
Mar 2020 | 1,357,395 |
April 2020 | 1,297,715 |
May 2020 | 1,540,619 |
June 2020 | 1,586,510 |
July 2020 | 1,046,970 |
Aug 2020 | 823,823 |
Sept 2020 | 1,145,903 |
Oct 2020 | 1,263,498 |
Nov 2020 | 939,216 |
Dec 2020 | 823,948 |
Jan 2021 | 12,169,207 |
Feb 2021 | 110,935,911 |
This data was extracted from the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES). TRACES is a European Commission system employed by EU member states to facilitate and record animal/animal product movements into and throughout the EU.
This response has been compiled by the Animal and Plant Health Agency from data provided by third parties, and as such is reliant on the providers for the accuracy of the information.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The number of live animals exported from the UK to the EU from January 2020 to February 2021 are as follows:
Month | Total Number of Live Animals |
Jan 2020 | 2,588,293 |
Feb 2020 | 1,911,125 |
Mar 2020 | 2,073293 |
April 2020 | 2,862,619 |
May 2020 | 2,239,639 |
June 2020 | 3,009,449 |
July 2020 | 2,158,253 |
Aug 2020 | 2,347,465 |
Sept 2020 | 1,990,329 |
Oct 2020 | 2,066,370 |
Nov 2020 | 1,356,446 |
Dec 2020 | 1,031,599 |
Jan 2021 | N/A |
Feb 2021 | N/A |
This data was extracted from the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES). TRACES is a European Commission system employed by EU member states to facilitate and record animal/animal product movements into and throughout the EU.
This response has been compiled by the Animal and Plant Health Agency from data provided by third parties, and as such is reliant on the providers for the accuracy of the information.
There are no records of individual animal numbers travelling from the UK to the EU for 2021.
EHC Online does have a section for APHA to note the total number of animals exported, but as we have changed the requirement for certified copies to be returned, this information can only be captured for livestock and camelids.
Export Health Certification issued using the new EHC Online service contains a module for Certifying Officers (CO) to record when they have approved, rejected or cancelled a certificate. As a result, APHA no longer routinely require COs to return certified copies of EHC to APHA. APHA can no longer provide data on the exact number of live animals being exported from Great Britain to the EU.
The EHC Online service was enhanced in February 2021 to include an area for APHA to record the total number of animals exported on an EHC, but this data field will only be completed by APHA for exports of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and camelids where there remains a requirement for the return of a certified copy of the EHC. The return of certified copies of these EHCs remains due to legislative requirements for the UK to trace and report the export of animals form a holding where a disease outbreak has occurred post-export.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The number of equines imported from the EU to the UK from January 2020 to February 2021 are as follows:
Month | Total Number of Equines |
Jan 2020 | 284 |
Feb 2020 | 283 |
Mar 2020 | 310 |
April 2020 | 72 |
May 2020 | 182 |
June 2020 | 361 |
July 2020 | 278 |
Aug 2020 | 379 |
Sept 2020 | 363 |
Oct 2020 | 433 |
Nov 2020 | 464 |
Dec 2020 | 379 |
Jan 2021 | 258 |
Feb 2021 | 801 |
This data was extracted from the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES). TRACES is a European Commission system employed by EU member states to facilitate and record animal/animal product movements into and throughout the EU.
This response has been compiled by the Animal and Plant Health Agency from data provided by third parties, and as such is reliant on the providers for the accuracy of the information.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The number of equines imported from France to the UK from January 2020 to February 2021 are as follows:
Month | Equines travelled on an ITAHC or EHC | Equines travelled on a DOCOM | Total |
Jan 2020 | 18 | 148 | 166 |
Feb 2020 | 15 | 102 | 117 |
Mar 2020 | 17 | 112 | 129 |
April 2020 | 4 | 61 | 65 |
May 2020 | 18 | 201 | 219 |
June 2020 | 22 | 73 | 95 |
July 2020 | 23 | 84 | 107 |
Aug 2020 | 27 | 70 | 97 |
Sept 2020 | 28 | 78 | 106 |
Oct 2020 | 37 | 145 | 182 |
Nov 2020 | 23 | 112 | 135 |
Dec 2020 | 27 | 187 | 214 |
Jan 2021 | 61 | N/A | 61 |
Feb 2021 | 244 | N/A | 244 |
This data was extracted from the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES). TRACES is a European Commission system employed by EU member states to facilitate and record animal/animal product movements into and throughout the EU.
This response has been compiled by the Animal and Plant Health Agency from data provided by third parties, and as such is reliant on the providers for the accuracy of the information.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The number of dogs imported from the Republic of Ireland to the UK from January 2020 to February 2021 are as follows:
Month | Total Number of Dogs |
Jan 2020 | 694 |
Feb 2020 | 658 |
Mar 2020 | 467 |
April 2020 | 99 |
May 2020 | 309 |
June 2020 | 480 |
July 2020 | 461 |
Aug 2020 | 449 |
Sept 2020 | 640 |
Oct 2020 | 572 |
Nov 2020 | 508 |
Dec 2020 | 477 |
Jan 2021 | 97 |
Feb 2021 | 532 |
This data was extracted from the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES). TRACES is a European Commission system employed by EU member states to facilitate and record animal/animal product movements into and throughout the EU.
This response has been compiled by the Animal and Plant Health Agency from data provided by third parties, and as such is reliant on the providers for the accuracy of the information.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The number of equines exported from the UK to the EU from January 2020 to February 2021 are as follows:
Month | Total Number of Equines |
Jan 2020 | 495 |
Feb 2020 | 422 |
Mar 2020 | 389 |
April 2020 | 295 |
May 2020 | 364 |
June 2020 | 542 |
July 2020 | 309 |
Aug 2020 | 506 |
Sept 2020 | 333 |
Oct 2020 | 395 |
Nov 2020 | 242 |
Dec 2020 | 320 |
Jan 2021 | 344 |
Feb 2021 | 991 |
This data was extracted from the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES). TRACES is a European Commission system employed by EU member states to facilitate and record animal/animal product movements into and throughout the EU.
This response has been compiled by the Animal and Plant Health Agency from data provided by third parties, and as such is reliant on the providers for the accuracy of the information.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The number of live animals imported from Northern Ireland to Great Britain from January 2020 to February 2021 are as follows:
Month | Total Number of Live Animals |
Jan 2020 | 7554 |
Feb 2020 | 9147 |
Mar 2020 | 13644 |
April 2020 | 7397 |
May 2020 | 6918 |
June 2020 | 8225 |
July 2020 | 7230 |
Aug 2020 | 6687 |
Sept 2020 | 8219 |
Oct 2020 | 3630 |
Nov 2020 | 3696 |
Dec 2020 | 4534 |
Jan 2021 | 16 |
Feb 2021 | 32 |
This data was extracted from the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES). TRACES is a European Commission system employed by EU member states to facilitate and record animal/animal product movements into and throughout the EU.
This response has been compiled by the Animal and Plant Health Agency from data provided by third parties, and as such is reliant on the providers for the accuracy of the information.
The data is correct according to APHA records. However, APHA is now receiving an increased number of Importer Notifications that do not specify country of origin of the consignment. This may account in the reduction of figures for January and February.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newton Abbot on 11 March 2021, PQ UIN 162616.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 11th June 2021 to Question UIN: 7771.
Minister of State (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
Prime Ministers Johnson and Morrison secured an historic free trade agreement on 15 June at Number 10 Downing Street. The Government expects to publish an agreement document outlining what has been agreed for Agreement in Principle (AiP) in the coming days.
This agreement with Australia secures positive steps on animal welfare. The Government has secured a non-regression clause with Australia to ensure that neither country lowers current or future animal welfare protections. The Government has also secured commitments to cooperate together on animal welfare internationally.
The UK produces high quality, premium produce that is globally sought after, and maintaining high domestic standards is a red line in all the UK’s trade negotiations, as the Government works to bring new export opportunities to British farmers.
Minister of State (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
Prime Ministers Johnson and Morrison secured an historic free trade agreement on 15 June at Number 10 Downing Street. The Government expects to publish an agreement document outlining what has been agreed for Agreement in Principle (AiP) in the coming days.
This agreement with Australia secures positive steps on animal welfare. The Government has secured a non-regression clause with Australia to ensure that neither country lowers current or future animal welfare protections. The Government has also secured commitments to cooperate together on animal welfare internationally.
The UK produces high quality, premium produce that is globally sought after, and maintaining high domestic standards is a red line in all the UK’s trade negotiations, as the Government works to bring new export opportunities to British farmers.
Minister of State (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
On 7 June, the Department launched a call for expressions of interest for expert advisors to join the new Trade and Agriculture Commission. The Commission will be established in time to scrutinise the planned Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Australia, to inform parliamentary scrutiny following signature. It will also scrutinise other planned FTAs.
Minister of State (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
All agri-food products imported into the UK under existing or future free trade agreements will, as now, have to meet the UK’s food safety and other Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standard requirements for imports. These include clear controls on limits of veterinary medicine residues in meat and other animal products. That will not change under any trade deal.
The UK is a world leader in the battle against antimicrobial resistance – significantly cutting use of antibiotics in farming, with sales of antibiotics for livestock reduced by 40% over the five years to the end of 2018. The UK will ensure that Antimicrobial Resistance remains a global priority by continuing to lead international policy dialogue at the highest political levels through the G7, G20 and other international and regional fora, and as a major supporter of the United Nations and wider multilateral system.
Minister of State (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
Poverty reduction is at the core of the mission of the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. It is fundamental to all seven of our strategic priorities for development and ODA spending.
By bringing our development and diplomatic expertise together in the new FCDO, and coordinating all UK activity in country better, we are using the full resources of Her Majesty’s Government to tackle poverty and reduce inequality.