Skip to main content

Written question asked by Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party) on Thursday, 13 May 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 17 May 2021. It was answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury (Conservative) on Friday, 21 May 2021 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.


Agriculture: Plums

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will provide support to farmers whose plum crops have failed as a result of experiencing frost in spring 2021.

Answer

The Government recognises the crucial role that the UK’s horticulture industry plays in both feeding the country and in promoting people’s health and well-being. Our plum farmers play an important role in this as well as to our wider economy, with production at the farm gate worth £3.4 million in 2018.

We have not received any representations from the plum sector as a result of the frost their crop has experienced this spring. However, Defra and the Devolved Administrations have established mechanisms to monitor and assess the impact of market developments across the UK and will continue to do so paying particular attention to this sector in the coming months.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
1062
Session
2021-22
Subjects
Crops Agriculture Government assistance Farmers Weather Plums
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk