Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Victoria Prentis and Thérèse Coffey

Thursday 20th July 2017 Commons Chamber

[Dr Coffey]

The right hon. Gentleman will be aware that the Government have set out the approach we intend to seek for a comprehensive free trade agreement with the European Union once we depart from it. We want to provide such clarity as soon as possible, and he will be aware that the negotiations are ongoing.

[Victoria Prentis (Banbury) (Con)]

17. I note that the Minister is aware that the cost of the bureaucracy related to applying for common agricultural policy subsidies has been considerable for farmers over recent years. Will she reassure me that this cost under the new British agricultural policy, or whatever it ends up being called, will be considerably lower and that it will be easier to apply for?

[Dr Coffey]

I am very happy to assure my hon. Friend that our future agricultural policy will be designed in a way that reduces needless and energy-sapping bureaucracy. We expect it to be simpler than the CAP, but she will recognise that we have a duty to ensure that taxpayers’ money is spent carefully and transparently. We will continue to reward farmers and landowners, who manage our precious countryside, in a way that supports the best environmental outcomes.

Microbead Ban

Debate between Victoria Prentis and Thérèse Coffey

Wednesday 8th March 2017 Westminster Hall

[Victoria Prentis]

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is now likely to be as many plastic water bottles in the sea as there are fish?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Dr Thérèse Coffey)]

indicated dissent.