I will ensure that these vital industries get the Government support they need to flourish whilst at the same time providing environmental benefits and food security.
West Cornwall MP Derek Thomas says that local fishermen will benefit from an historic new fisheries agreement signed with Norway – the UK’s first since leaving the EU and first as an independent coastal state in 40 years.
This Parliament is unique in that it is able to debate and pass legislation paving the way for trading agreements around the world - something the UK Parliament has not been able to do for decades.
The focus is on a healthy green balanced recovery and what better example of this than the news that West Cornwall fishing has secured £220,000 to help projects that increase the sale and consumption of locally caught fish.
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee (of which I am a member) continues to take evidence of the availability of food to consumers during the lockdown (Friday and yesterday).
There are many aspects of the job of Member of Parliament for West Cornwall and Scilly that are rewarding and worthwhile but not much tops the opportunity to meet constituents at the drop-in events, the latest of which I hosted in various pubs last week.
Few would disagree that it is a matter of strategic national interest to ensure that our country can feed itself. For the first time in over 40 years we have a historic opportunity to design a domestic agricultural policy that will create a more productive and sustainable farming sector.
This is a big year for UK fishing and on Wednesday next week fishing industry representatives including from Newlyn gather in Westminster to discuss the key considerations that must be addressed for the industry as we leave the EU and the Commons Fisheries Policy.
