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Written Question
Seed Potatoes: Exports
Wednesday 25th January 2023

Asked by: Richard Thomson (Scottish National Party - Gordon)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the statement made by the hon. Member for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine on 15 December 2022 at Hansard, vol 724, col 1206, that last year nearly 90% of all UK seed potato exports were to non-EU countries, to which countries the remainder of UK seed potato exports not sent to non-EU countries in 2021 were exported; and what tonnage of seed potatoes were exported to each of those countries in 2021.

Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) data shows that in 2021, over 10% of UK seed potatoes were recorded as having been exported to the EU, in value terms.

By volume, HMRC data shows that 11,275 tonnes (around 14%) of UK seed potatoes were exported to EU countries in 2021. The net mass exported to each of those EU countries in 2021 is shown in Table 1.

Table 1: UK exports of seed potatoes to EU countries in 2021, by mass

Country

Sum of Net Mass (Tonnes)

Spain

5,456

Netherlands

2,278

Ireland

2,168

Belgium

1,056

Germany

105

France

98

Poland

71

Romania

23

Lithuania

20

Hungary

0.2

Grand Total

11,275


Written Question
Trade Agreements: Gulf Cooperation Council
Monday 16th January 2023

Asked by: Richard Thomson (Scottish National Party - Gordon)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the Government plans to take steps to include international human rights safeguards in a Free Trade Agreement between the United Kingdom and Gulf Cooperation Council.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK is a leading advocate for human rights around the world. We remain committed to the promotion of universal human rights, and, when we have concerns, they are raised directly with partner governments, including at ministerial level. This is undertaken separately to negotiations on free trade agreements.


Written Question
Members: Correspondence
Monday 20th December 2021

Asked by: Richard Thomson (Scottish National Party - Gordon)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, when she will respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Gordon dated 22 October 2021 and 26 November 2021 (Case Ref: RI4282) regarding the Export Support Service.

Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

I responded to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Gordon, dated 22 October 2021 and 26 November 2021, (Case Ref: RI4282) regarding the Export Support Service on 17 December.