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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he is making in increasing exports of UK agricultural produce; and if he will make a statement.

The Government and industry first launched the joint Food and Drink International Action Plan in 2012 and a refreshed Plan last October. The Plan commits us to deliver £500 million of value to the UK economy by supporting 1,000 companies by October 2015. In 2013 exports of UK Food and Drink reached £18.9 billion from £18.2 billion in 2012. In 2013 we opened 112 markets for animals and animal products, helping increase exports to non-EU markets by £179 million to £1.35 billion. This year we have opened 54 new markets for animals and animal products.

The Government has been successful in breaking down restrictions relating to BSE to provide greater opportunities to increase beef and lamb exports. Following lifting of the BSE ban by the US earlier this year, enabling export of beef once technical negotiations have been concluded, a memorandum of understanding on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies has been agreed with China providing a framework for negotiations. Once opened these markets could be worth up to £181m per annum. The Government and industry continue to work together to increase food and drink exports.