Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how the Government plans to negotiate a deal with the EU which has the flexibility required to ensure that the Scotch whisky industry's interests are protected in line with any future changes in market conditions.
Answered by George Eustice
As part of our preparations to leave the EU, we will consider future global trading relationships and the impacts on the food and drink industry. Our ambition is for the UK to become a truly global trading nation and there are great opportunities for Scotland's most celebrated exports, such as Scotch Whisky, to take advantage of the growing interest in British food and drink around the world.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking in negotiations on the UK's exit from the EU to ensure that geographical indications from the UK continue to be recognised in the EU and that systems for such indications remain compatible across the UK and EU.
Answered by George Eustice
Countries outside the EU are already able to participate in the EU's Protected Food Name schemes when selling onto the EU market. In addition, the rules that currently govern the enforcement of Protected Food Names will be placed on a UK legal basis through the EU Withdrawal Bill. Whether the UK continues to protect EU Protected Food Names from other member states in the UK market will be a matter for negotiation. Some of the Geographical Indicator designations that the UK has, for instance protecting Scotch Whisky in the US, are governed by agreements outside the EU Protected Food Name scheme. The UK will continue to abide by WTO rules on the protection of Geographical Indicators globally.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to accept and help enforce future EU geographical indicators.
Answered by George Eustice
Countries outside the EU are already able to participate in the EU's Protected Food Name schemes when selling onto the EU market. In addition, the rules that currently govern the enforcement of Protected Food Names will be placed on a UK legal basis through the EU Withdrawal Bill. Whether the UK continues to protect EU Protected Food Names from other member states in the UK market will be a matter for negotiation. Some of the Geographical Indicator designations that the UK has, for instance protecting Scotch Whisky in the US, are governed by agreements outside the EU Protected Food Name scheme. The UK will continue to abide by WTO rules on the protection of Geographical Indicators globally.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to establish EU respect for future UK geographical indicators after the UK has left the EU.
Answered by George Eustice
Countries outside the EU are already able to participate in the EU's Protected Food Name schemes when selling onto the EU market. In addition, the rules that currently govern the enforcement of Protected Food Names will be placed on a UK legal basis through the EU Withdrawal Bill. Whether the UK continues to protect EU Protected Food Names from other member states in the UK market will be a matter for negotiation. Some of the Geographical Indicator designations that the UK has, for instance protecting Scotch Whisky in the US, are governed by agreements outside the EU Protected Food Name scheme. The UK will continue to abide by WTO rules on the protection of Geographical Indicators globally.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues about protecting the Scotch whisky industry when the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Eustice
There are regular discussions between Ministers about how leaving the EU affects UK industries.
Scotch Whisky is already protected in over 80 countries mostly through registration with Geographical Indication schemes but also through Trade Marks and free trade and other agreements drawn up over many years. Global exports of Scotch were worth £4 billion in 2016. Government is committed to building on this market access and ensuring protection continues after we leave the EU.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government about protecting the Scotch whisky industry when the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Eustice
The Secretary of State attended the Royal Highland Show on 22 June where he held discussions with Scottish Government Ministers and stakeholders including the Scotch Whisky Association. A ministerial meeting is also scheduled to take place in late September.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on future funding of the LEADER programme.
Answered by George Eustice
The Government has confirmed that it will guarantee funding for LEADER projects that are signed before EU exit as long as they are good value for money and are in line with domestic strategic priorities. Leaving the EU provides the opportunity to take our own decisions about how we deliver the policy objectives previously targeted by EU funding.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to match EU funding for biodiversity projects in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
Funding for biodiversity is a key priority for agri-environment schemes under our Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). The Government has guaranteed funding for new RDPE projects, including agri-environment ones, agreed before we leave the EU, provided they are good value for money and are in line with domestic strategic priorities.
Funding is also guaranteed for EU LIFE projects even when those projects continue beyond the UK’s departure from the EU. EU LIFE plays an important role in supporting projects which help protect and conserve the natural environment.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to match EU funding for biodiversity projects in the UK Overseas Territories after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
The UK will continue to have all the rights, obligations and benefits that membership brings, including receiving EU funding, until the UK leaves the EU. This includes funding for OTs.
The UK has committed to fully involving Gibraltar and the Overseas Territories as we prepare for negotiations to leave the EU, to ensure their priorities are taken into account. Leaving the EU means we will want to take our own decisions about how to deliver the policy objectives previously targeted by EU funding. Over the coming months, we will consult closely with stakeholders, including the governments of the Overseas Territories, to review all EU funding schemes in the round and ensure that any ongoing funding commitments best serve the UK‘s national interest, while ensuring appropriate investor certainty.