To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.

Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Food Supply
Tuesday 8th October 2019

Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effect on food supplies of the UK leaving the EU without a deal; and what plans her Department has to maintain food supplies in that event.

Answered by George Eustice

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 25 Jul 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"Two of the three principal recommendations made by Dame Laura Cox have now been implemented. Implementation of the third, on the independence of the independent complaints and grievance scheme from MP involvement, is under way. The commission will be considering options in the autumn...."
Tom Brake - View Speech

View all Tom Brake (LD - Carshalton and Wallington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 25 Jul 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"I agree with that point. The hon. Gentleman may be aware that a staff team have been set up to look at the issue of independence and are considering the options. They have an independent challenge group, which will look at, for instance, the impact on parliamentary independence, the ability …..."
Tom Brake - View Speech

View all Tom Brake (LD - Carshalton and Wallington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 25 Jul 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"I think that is a good point, and if the hon. Gentleman wants to submit his idea to the working group that is looking at the issue, it might want to take it into consideration when formulating responses...."
Tom Brake - View Speech

View all Tom Brake (LD - Carshalton and Wallington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 25 Jul 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"The Administration Committee considers proposals for the provision of smoking areas. I can inform the hon. Member that, for instance, on 11 March it endorsed a proposal to close the smoking area outside the Woolsack bar towards the House of Lords end of the estate, and she may want to …..."
Tom Brake - View Speech

View all Tom Brake (LD - Carshalton and Wallington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 25 Jul 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"I can confirm that the House authorities have identified and assessed several designated smoking areas, but I will draw to their attention the smoking area that the hon. Lady has referred to, because Members will know that when crossing from Portcullis to Norman Shaw, there is a little bit of …..."
Tom Brake - View Speech

View all Tom Brake (LD - Carshalton and Wallington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 25 Jul 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"I commend the hon. Gentleman on being, I think, the sixth member of his party who in this Session has raised the issue of electronic voting; however, I am afraid that I cannot give him a different answer to the previous five responses. [Interruption.] I am afraid my response is …..."
Tom Brake - View Speech

View all Tom Brake (LD - Carshalton and Wallington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 25 Jul 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"Absolutely; I agree that it is time for change, although I suspect that the new Leader of the House may not be giving his entire support to such proposals as we revert to the Victorian era. I draw to the hon. Gentleman’s attention the fact that the Procedure Committee is …..."
Tom Brake - View Speech

View all Tom Brake (LD - Carshalton and Wallington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 25 Jul 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"I would suggest to the hon. Gentleman that there are ways in which electronic voting can take place and he would still be able to nab a Cabinet Minister. I would also point out to him that Opposition Members often have difficulties in nabbing Cabinet Ministers in the Division Lobby...."
Tom Brake - View Speech

View all Tom Brake (LD - Carshalton and Wallington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Written Question
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Brexit
Wednesday 10th July 2019

Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what preparations his Department is making for the UK leaving the EU without an agreement; and how much funding has been allocated to those preparations.

Answered by David Rutley

The Government remains focused on ensuring our smooth and orderly withdrawal from the EU, with a deal, as soon as possible.

Leaving without a withdrawal agreement remains the legal default at the end of the extension period, and as a responsible Government we have been preparing to minimise any disruption in the event of no deal for over two years.

In light of the agreed extension to the EU departure date, departments are making pragmatic decisions about the timing and pace at which some of this work is progressing. We continue to prepare for all exit scenarios.

Defra has put in place a range of mitigations to minimise any disruption arising from leaving the EU without a deal. This has included creating six new IT systems, ensuring necessary legislation was passed, and setting up a Business Readiness Directorate to support increased levels of stakeholder engagement.

We have also taken extensive steps to provide businesses and citizens with advice and guidance aimed at helping to mitigate the potential impacts of no deal. Where necessary, we will continue to update our advice on gov.uk on how people should prepare.

HM Treasury has allocated over £4.2 billion of additional funding to departments and the Devolved Administrations for EU exit preparations so far. This funding is to cover all exit scenarios, and is in addition to departmental efforts to reprioritise from business as usual toward preparations for the UK’s departure from the EU.