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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what meetings have taken place between officials in her Department and officials in the Department for International Trade on protecting UK standards on (a) animal welfare, (b) environmental and (c) food safety when negotiating Free Trade Agreements.

My officials meet regularly with Department for International Trade officials to discuss the negotiation of Free Trade Agreements.

We have been clear - across Government, from the Prime Minister down - that we will not lower our standards in pursuit of trade deals, and that we will use all the tools at our disposal to make sure that standards are protected.