Oral Answers to Questions

Simon Burns Excerpts

Thursday 7th July 2016 Commons Chamber

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

5. What recent steps the Great British Food Unit has taken to promote regional food and drink.

[Sir Simon Burns (Chelmsford) (Con)]

7. What recent steps the Great British Food Unit has taken to promote regional food and drink.

[Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con)]

10. What progress her Department has made on promoting regional food and drink.

--- Later in debate ---

[Elizabeth Truss]

In my opinion, it is never too early for a gin and tonic! I completely agree with my hon. Friend. Now that the British people have made the decision to leave the EU, the Great British Food Unit is even more important. We already have missions planned for the Gulf, China and Japan to open more markets for fantastic British food. I am going to increase the resources going into the Great British Food Unit to make sure that we turbo-charge our efforts to export more British food right around the world.

[Sir Simon Burns]

Does my right hon. Friend accept that Essex is home to some of the finest food, drink and countryside in the nation? What does she think is the link between food and tourism, and what more can be done to promote it?

[Elizabeth Truss]

We know that for a third of all visitors, food is a major factor in deciding where to visit. It is hugely important, which is why DEFRA is backing food tourism. We recently backed the “tour culinaire” to Yorkshire, which accompanied the cycle race and featured fantastic Yorkshire products such as liquorice. I would be delighted to discuss with my right hon. Friend how we could do something similar in Essex in respect of fantastic products such as Tiptree strawberry jam.