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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking through the Food and Environmental Research Agency deal to support businesses in Thirsk and Malton.

The establishment of the Food and Environmental Research Agency (Fera) joint venture will bring new investment of £14.5m and, it is anticipated, create 50 new high value science jobs. This will boost the National Agri-Food Innovation Campus York, where Fera is based, and which is already working with the Local Enterprise Partnership to bring more business and employment to the site. All of this will help support the local economy in Thirsk and Malton.