Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2022 to Question 100400, on Trade Promotion: Food, how many of the more than 100 overseas staff in her Department are assigned specifically to promote food and drink exports; and how many UK based staff in her Department are assigned specifically to promote food and drink exports; and if he will make a statement.

Food and drink exporters are supported by the full breadth of DIT’s trade policy work and export services, as well as officials based across the UK who provide specialist support to businesses in the agriculture, food and drink sector. The specific number of officials will continually evolve, in response to the demands from different parts of the industry and in different overseas markets.

The 100 staff overseas, either on a full or part time basis, who are specifically supporting businesses in the agriculture, food, and drink sector, are part of DIT’s wider presence overseas and will be joined by eight new additional specialist agriculture attachés.