Thursday Volume 633 14 December 2017 No. 69 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday 14 December 2017 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2017 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 581 14 DECEMBER 2017 582 agricultural economy, particularly, for example, in poultry House of Commons farming. Businesses in my constituency are looking forward to the opportunities that will open up as we Thursday 14 December 2017 leave the European Union, but what assurances can the Minister give to those who have concerns about labour supply that either they will have access to the workers The House met at half-past Nine o’clock they need from the European Union, or that there will be training for British equivalents? PRAYERS Mr Baker: At every step of these negotiations, we will work to ensure the best possible outcome for the British [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] people, including our farming community that plays such a vital role in constituencies such as ours. No decisions have yet been made on our future immigration system. We are considering carefully a range of options Oral Answers to Questions and taking into account the needs of different sectors of the economy, including agriculture. EXITING THE EUROPEAN UNION Mary Creagh (Wakefield) (Lab): Farmers in Wakefield, Yorkshire, and across the country face a triple whammy from Brexit: the loss of common agricultural policy The Secretary of State was asked— subsidies, and changes to the subsidy regime after 2021; tariff and non-tariff barriers; and potentially a flood of Support for Farmers cheap imports after any new trade deal. What steps is the Minister taking to mitigate those risks? 1. Wendy Morton (Aldridge-Brownhills) (Con): What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of Mr Baker: As I said in my original answer, we are State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on protecting total cash payments to farmers throughout support for farmers after the UK leaves the EU. this Parliament, and that is the longest guarantee right [902928] across the European Union. I do not accept the premise of the hon. Lady’s question, and we will continue to 3. Robert Courts (Witney) (Con): What recent discussions support farmers. he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on support for farmers after the UK leaves the EU. [902930] Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): With special reference to global exports, will the Minister say what discussions The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exiting have been held and how the Department has sought to the European Union (Mr Steve Baker): We have been establish trade rights for farming exporters in my working closely with the Secretary of State for Environment, constituency, of which there are many? Food, and Rural Affairs on support for farmers, and the Government will provide the same cash total in Mr Baker: The UK farming sector enjoys a reputation funds for farmer support until the end of the Parliament. for quality that has been built on high animal welfare We continue to work closely with a range of stakeholders standards, strong environmental protections, and the across the farming industry and beyond, as well as with dedication of farmers and growers across the United the devolved Assemblies. Kingdom. Based on that reputation, we hope that we will flourish in the world market. Wendy Morton: I recently met local farmers in my constituency and representatives from the National Farmers Stephen Crabb (Preseli Pembrokeshire) (Con): There Union, and understandably, Brexit was one of the has been a lot of focus on the uncertainty in sectors things we discussed. Will my hon. Friend assure farmers such as banking that have contingency plans for relocation. across the west midlands and the rest of the UK that he For many farmers, however, the decision is not one of has given consideration to the supply of adequate seasonal relocation; it is about whether they stay in the industry labour on which many farmers rely? at all, and we need good farmers to stay in the business. I urge my hon. Friend to work with colleagues at the Mr Baker: Yes. The Government have commissioned Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Migration Advisory Committee to gather evidence and the farming unions, to develop a strong post-Brexit on patterns of EU migration and the role of migration plan for agriculture. in the wider economy, ahead of our exit from the EU. The MAC’s call for evidence on EEA workers in the UK labour market closed on 27 October, but it will Kwasi Kwarteng (Spelthorne) (Con) rose— continue to engage with organisations to gather further evidence. The Government are clear that the UK is Mr Speaker: Order. The hon. Member for Spelthorne open for business. (Kwasi Kwarteng) has been in the House for seven and a half years, and he should not be standing for a Robert Courts: On a similar note to the question from supplementary on question 1 when his question is No. 2. my hon. Friend the Member for Aldridge-Brownhills It is a point so blindingly obvious that only a very clever (Wendy Morton), west Oxfordshire has a successful person could fail to grasp it. 583 Oral Answers 14 DECEMBER 2017 Oral Answers 584 Mr Baker: As my right hon. Friend the Member for Hilary Benn (Leeds Central) (Lab): The Secretary of Preseli Pembrokeshire (Stephen Crabb) knows, leaving State told the Select Committee that it was the Government’s the European Union means leaving the common intention to conclude a free trade agreement with the agricultural policy. We believe that this is an opportunity EU by March 2019. Last Friday,however,the Environment to design a new agri-environment system to the benefit Secretary told the “Today” programme that ironing out of our whole country. the details of a free trade agreement and moving towards a new relationship would take place during the transition Ben Lake (Ceredigion) (PC): The red meat sector period. Can the right hon. Gentleman confirm that that accounts for 45% of Welsh agricultural production by is the Government’s new position? value, and the EU is its nearest and biggest market. Evidence from the Welsh meat marketing board, Hybu Mr Davis: The implementation period will be most Cig Cymru, suggests that under World Trade Organisation valuable if companies know what the final outcome will rules, tariffs of up to 84% could be levied on cattle be, because that will allow them to prepare for it. To carcases, 46% on lamb carcases, and 61% on cuts of that end, we will seek to conclude the substantive portion lamb. Does the Minister recognise that securing tariff-free of the negotiation before then. access to the EU market is vital for the viability of Wales’s livestock-dependent agriculture sector? Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): There is talk of a two-year implementation or transition period. Mr Baker: We recognise that securing tariff-free access What is there to prevent that from simply being a is crucial, and it is our policy to seek to do so. two-year extension of our membership of the European Union? Implementation Period Mr Davis: One reason is that, if we stayed in the 2. Kwasi Kwarteng (Spelthorne) (Con): What assessment European Union completely, we would still be subject he has made of the potential merits of an implementation to the duty of sincere co-operation, which is what period after the UK leaves the EU. [902929] constrains us from carrying out free trade negotiations. That is one reason, at least, why we would not do that. The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (Mr David Davis): As you have noticed, Mr Speaker, the Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington) (LD): Does questioner at least is clever, if I am not. There are three the Secretary of State believe that the prospect of being main reasons why an implementation period is in the granted an implementation or transition period by the interests of the United Kingdom and the European European Union has been improved by the Secretary of Union. First, it will allow the United Kingdom Government State saying that the past six months of negotiations time to set up any new infrastructure or systems that have led only to a “statement of intent”by the Government? might be needed to support our new arrangements. Would he like to restate that, in fact, the Government Secondly, it will allow European Union Governments are committed to delivering what they have secured in to do the same. We should not forget that, while we are the past six months of negotiations with European already planning for all scenarios, many EU Governments Union? might not put plans in place until the deal is struck. Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, it will avoid Mr Davis: As usual, the right hon. Gentleman takes a businesses in the United Kingdom and the European partial quote and tries to make something of it. I have Union having to take any decisions before they know said, in terms, that the withdrawal agreement will be a the shape of the final deal. I welcome President Tusk’s treaty, and treaties are binding on this country. That is recommendation that talks on the implementation period what we intend. I also said, in the interview to which I should start immediately and should be agreed as soon think he is referring, that it is our intention, whatever as possible. happens, to protect the status of Northern Ireland, both in terms of its being within the United Kingdom Kwasi Kwarteng: I am grateful to my right hon.