Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Charlie Dewhirst Excerpts
Thursday 22nd January 2026

(1 day, 13 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Darren Jones Portrait Darren Jones
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I thank my hon. Friend for the great work that she does in Parliament and within the Labour party as a leading voice for rural communities across our country. On Government action, I point her to the rural taskforce, a cross-departmental group looking at how policies taken across Government can have a positive impact in rural communities while recognising the unique risk that we want to mitigate.

Charlie Dewhirst Portrait Charlie Dewhirst (Bridlington and The Wolds) (Con)
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The Paymaster General has told the House this morning, on more than one occasion, just how wonderful his new EU deal will be for British food and drink manufacturers, so why is he refusing to appear in front of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee to discuss the matter in more detail?

Nick Thomas-Symonds Portrait Nick Thomas-Symonds
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To be frank, when we have the final negotiation and the legal text I will of course be willing to appear before the Select Committee at the appropriate moment. If the hon. Gentleman looks at how many Select Committees I have appeared before, in this place and in the Lords, he will find that it is a very high number.