Contributions
1,165 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDAnimal Welfare StandardsMy hon. Friend raises an important point. The Government have made available £16 million to partners such as FareShare to ensure that we can get food to thousands of food…25 Jun 2020HANSARDFood SecurityWe recognise that, as a result of the coronavirus crisis, the financial vulnerability of households has also increased. That is why, last week, the Government announced a new £16…19 May 2020HANSARDFinancial Support for Food ProducersWe are working closely with the agriculture and fishing industries to manage the negative impacts of covid-19. In addition to HM Treasury’s financial support packages, the…19 May 2020HANSARDFinancial Support for Food ProducersThe Government are very clear—and it was set out in our manifesto—that we will not compromise on our high food and animal welfare standards as we approach trade agreements.…19 May 2020HANSARDFinancial Support for Food ProducersThe new UK global tariff that has been announced today does retain tariffs for most key agricultural products, including those sensitive agricultural products that are often…19 May 2020HANSARDUK Food ProducersOur food and farming industry plays a crucial role in challenging times, and we are co-funding a £1 million campaign to promote milk, alongside industry and devolved Government…19 May 2020HANSARDSupermarket Supply ChainsWe estimate that only about a third of the east European workforce who would usually come to work on our farms are here or have continued to come. That means that we will need a…19 May 2020HANSARDSupermarket Supply ChainsI can reassure my hon. Friend that all essential workers, including all those involved in the food supply chain, are eligible for testing. We are working with the food sector to…19 May 2020HANSARDSupermarket Supply ChainsWe have worked closely with retailers and suppliers to ensure the security of supply chains, while also protecting staff safety. I would like to put on record again my thanks to…19 May 2020HANSARDPubs as Takeaway RestaurantsMy hon. Friend makes an important point. Pubs are at the heart of our community, and the fact that they have been forced to close has caused difficulty for many of them. As the…19 May 2020HANSARDPubs as Takeaway RestaurantsWe were very clear when we imposed the original restrictions at the point of lockdown that those did not extend to takeaway food outlets. We were clear that we wanted to support…19 May 2020HANSARDPubs as Takeaway RestaurantsThe Government welcome the reopening of food-to-go businesses in line with social distancing measures and have relaxed planning rules so that pubs and restaurants can operate as…19 May 2020HANSARDFood SecurityThe food strategy that is being developed by Henry Dimbleby, one of our non-executive directors, will involve an initial report in the autumn setting out the approach and the…19 May 2020HANSARDFood SecurityThe coronavirus response has exemplified the resilience of the UK food supply chain. Industry has responded quickly to significant changes in demand to ensure that people have the…19 May 2020HANSARDSupermarkets: Good Hygiene and Social DistancingMy right hon. Friend is absolutely right: our supermarket retailers acted within hours—certainly within 24 hours—to implement social distancing when lockdown occurred. They acted…19 May 2020HANSARDSupermarkets: Good Hygiene and Social DistancingOn the latter point, I take the opportunity to pay tribute to all those key workers working throughout our food supply chain, from those working on farms to those working in…19 May 2020HANSARDSupermarkets: Good Hygiene and Social DistancingFrom the outset, we have worked extensively with retailers and Public Health England to establish best practice and publish guidance on social distancing and hygiene, to keep…19 May 2020HANSARDFood SupplyThis Government have a very clear manifesto commitment that we will protect our food standards in all our trade negotiations. Certain practices, such as chlorine washes on chicken…19 May 2020HANSARDFood SupplyI am aware, as it has been drawn to my attention, following my hon. Friend’s question, that there is a letter that I have yet to respond to; I will respond to that. Obviously, the…19 May 2020HANSARDFood SupplyThe food industry has responded quickly and impressively to the significant changes in demand that we have seen over the past month. That has ensured supply into stores and…19 May 2020