Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment the Government has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on exports from farms in North West Durham constituency.

As part of our work preparing to make a success of our departure from the European Union, we are carrying out a broad range of sectoral analysis, in including agriculture, as you would expect a responsible Government to do.

Leaving the EU presents a major opportunity for UK agriculture. The Agriculture Bill will provide stability to farmers as we leave the EU. It will support our farmers to compete domestically and on the global market, allowing us to grow, sell and export more great British food. The bill includes measures to ensure that after we leave the EU, and therefore the Common Agricultural Policy, we have an effective system in place to support UK farmers and protect our natural environment.

The Government is committed to getting the best possible deal for the United Kingdom - a deal that works for all parts of the UK, including the North East. We will continue to engage with businesses and industry bodies from all sectors of the economy, and all regions of the UK, in order to inform our negotiations with the EU.