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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken through trade deals to support food exporters in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

Defra is supporting British food and farming through new trade agreements, including those agreed recently with India, the Gulf Cooperation Council and Switzerland. These provide opportunities for Staffordshire producers such as those making high-quality dairy, oatcakes and beer. The Government is progressing negotiations with the EU on an SPS Agreement to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier. Our global network of agri-food attachés work to expand market access and create new export opportunities for the UK’s agri-food produce, delivering benefits to businesses in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire and across the UK. Defra works in partnership with industry to support access to new markets.