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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what date his Department agreed to establish a compensation scheme for exporters of shellfish.

The UK seafood sector, already adversely affected by the impacts of Covid-19, will receive Government funding of up to £23 million for businesses adjusting to new requirements where they have experienced a verifiable loss due to failures in the EU export processes.

The funding is in addition to the £100 million investment the Prime Minister announced on 24 December to rejuvenate the industry and coastal communities across the UK, and on top of the £32 million that will replace EU funding this year.