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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page seven of her Department's policy brief, How increased Connectivity is Boosting Prospects of Rural Areas, published in December 2014, what assessment she has made of the effect of the International Food and Drink Action Plan on the level of (a) food and (b) drink exports to date.

Since the publication of the UK Food and Drink - International Action Plan in October 2013 we have supported 2,500 companies (1,500 more than we had pledged), opened over 100 markets for animal and animal products, implemented a faster export health certification system two months ahead of schedule and continued to champion British food and drink here and overseas at major trade shows and events. Full details of the progress made can be found in the One Year On report published on the Open to Exports website at http://opentoexport.com/article/uk-food-and-drink-international-action-plan-one-year-on-2/.

The agri-food and drink sector is worth over £100bn and includes the largest manufacturing sector worth over £26bn. Food and drink exports in 2013 were £18.9bn up £700m compared to 2012 and 39% above those in 2010.