Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the UK leaving the EU (a) Single Market and (b) Customs Union on the export of agri-food products from the UK to the EU.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government cares deeply about the trading relationship with the European Union; The Withdrawal Agreement, including the Windsor Framework, and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) underpin relations between the UK and the EU. Although the TCA allows zero tariffs and zero quota trade, leaving the EU Single Market and Customs Union had an impact on the export of agri-food products, as have other changes in trade policy such as new Free Trade Agreements with other countries, and global shocks such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

We are working to reset our relationship with our European friends to strengthen ties and tackle barriers to UK-EU trade. We will seek to negotiate a veterinary/SPS agreement to boost trade and deliver benefits to businesses and consumers in the UK and the EU. We have been clear that our trading relationship can be improved but we are not rejoining the single market or customs union, and we will not return to freedom of movement.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer,what recent assessment her Department has made of the impact of leaving the EU on public finances.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

I refer the Hon. member to my answer to his question on this issue during the Topical Questions section of HMT orals today.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of recent reports of the Zamzam displacement camp in Sudan being shelled by Rapid Support Forces.

Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is appalled by recent reports of the Rapid Support Forces' indiscriminate shelling of Zamzam camp, the largest camp for internally displaced persons (IDP) in Sudan. There are an estimated 500,000 people living in Zamzam camp, where famine was declared by The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Committee in August. The warring parties must fulfil the commitments they made in Jeddah to prevent harm to civilians and abide by International Humanitarian Law. The UK is in touch with partners to ensure we support the response, including to those who may be displaced from the camp by the violence. The UK is one of the biggest supporters to the Sudan Humanitarian Fund, which provides support to local responders including the Emergency Response Rooms.

King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2024 for the Buchan Battalion Boys’ Brigade

Found: Labour; Bethnal Green and Stepney) Florence Eshalomi MP (Labour; Vauxhall and Camberwell Green) Stephen Gethins