After almost two years of answering questions every Wednesday lunchtime as Prime Minister, I now find myself asking them.
Last week, on Back British Farming Day, I chose to raise the issue of food security with the Prime Minister.
Specifically, I asked Sir Keir Starmer if he would commit to enshrining a national food security target in law.
It is a principle on which I was proud to fight July’s general election on. At a time of increased global volatility, it is vitally important that we help British farmers to produce more food which we know is produced to higher welfare and environmental standards than many other countries and, crucially, provides us with security against external shocks in an increasingly uncertain world.
Sir Keir did not address my question directly in his response but it is an issue I will continue to fight for, along with the NFU.
Farmers raised this with me on Monday when I was at Hawes Auction Mart for the start of the autumn breeding sheep sales.
These are massive events in the agricultural calendar. This week, the two-day show and sale saw more than 22,000 Mule gimmer lambs go through the mart. It attracted buyers from all over the UK, keen to snap up the best young ewes – the harvest of the hills as one farmer brilliantly put it.
By all accounts, the quality of sheep on offer throughout the sale was as good as seen for many years with prices to match.
I had a fantastic morning, watching the judging, presenting the prizes to the winners, grabbing a cuppa in the café and helping out in the ring as the sale got underway.
I’d like to thank Andrew Pratt, chairman of Hawes Farmers Auction Mart, and his team for letting me be part of this great tradition.
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Some good news on the creation of Richmond’s banking hub.
It should be open in the town by December when Barclays are shutting their branch – the last bank branch in the town.
Since the Barclays announcement, I’ve kept in contact with Cash Access UK, the bank industry body changed with maintaining public access to cash and other banking services in communities hit by bank branch closures.
I was keen that the banking hub (premises shared by the High Street banks) was up and running by the time Barclays closed the Market Place branch and I am pleased to say that Cash Access UK have confirmed it has signed a lease for premises in King Street and work will start on fitting it out shortly. It should be open by the end of the year.
Should there be any delay, a location for temporary premises has also been identified.
When opened the hub will enable bank customers to deposit and withdraw cash, check balances, pay in cheques, obtain change, pay utility bills and speak to bank representatives.
