Economy: Productivity - Question

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 3:14 pm on 8 February 2017.

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Photo of Lord Cunningham of Felling Lord Cunningham of Felling Labour 3:14, 8 February 2017

My Lords, sadly, this country has an appalling trade deficit in agricultural and food products, yet agriculture and food argument not included in the industrial strategy at all. Further, our exports of food and other agricultural products have been flatlining for the past 10 years. If we leave the European Union, which is one of the biggest export markets for agricultural and food products this country has, how are we going to make up for the loss of trade which that implies if agriculture and food are not included in our industrial strategy for the future? Before the noble Lord says it, I know that Defra is going to produce its own strategy—but should this not be a prominent part of our national strategy for industrial development?