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Written question asked by Paul Flynn (Labour) on Friday, 4 September 2015, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 8 September 2015. It was answered by George Eustice (Conservative) on Monday, 14 September 2015 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Tea

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the value of UK tea sales in the last financial year; what plans she has to return to China to promote British tea sales in that country; and if she will assess the value for money of previous such visits.

Answer

In 2014 UK retail sales of tea were worth £663 million and exports were worth £116 million. Tea exports increased by 16% to £59.4 million between January and June 2015, compared with January to June 2014.

Exports of food and drink are a Defra priority. British food and drink exports to China reached a record level to £287 million last year, with tea exports increasing by 583% to £2.2 million in January-June 2015 compared with the same period in 2014. The Secretary of State will be championing the best of British in China this November, including tea, and further build on the strong relationships formed with her counterparts in China during her January visit.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
8805
Session
2015-16
Subjects
China Sales Tea
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk