Sarah Dyke
Main Page: Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat - Glastonbury and Somerton)Department Debates - View all Sarah Dyke's debates with the Leader of the House
(1 day, 9 hours ago)
Commons ChamberMy hon. Friend raises an important matter. I can assure her that the Government are listening on these matters. We are introducing new, permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties, and we are also introducing a hospitality support scheme. As I said in a previous answer, the Chancellor has commissioned work to examine a specific pub support package.
Dairy farmers across Glastonbury and Somerton are competing against imports of cheaper cheese from New Zealand and butter from the USA, but there is no obligation for those products to be labelled with a point of origin. The result is a dramatic collapse in milk prices at the farm gate, and many farmers are now producing milk for less than the cost of production. We hear of farmers throwing milk down the drain in utter desperation. Can the Leader of the House advise me on how I may secure a meeting with a Minister to discuss fairness in the supply chain not only to give farmers confidence, but to give our consumers the confidence that they can back British farming?
Ensuring fairness in supply chains is key for UK dairy farmers, and the Government recognise that. The Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024 improve fairness and transparency, and require dairy contracts to include clear terms on pricing termination and prohibiting unilateral changes. Through our new deal for farmers, we are supporting growth and making the supply chain fairer. My colleagues in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will have heard the hon. Lady’s remarks. If she writes to me, I will ensure that she gets the meeting that she seeks.