E. COLI OUTBREAK IN EUROPE AND THE UK CUCUMBER INDUSTRY

That this House notes that no one has caught E. coli from any cucumbers produced in the UK; is deeply concerned for the growers and food businesses in the Lee Valley and across Britain who are suffering from a 30 per cent. to 50 per cent. fall in sales; further notes that June is high season for the UK cucumber industry; further notes reports that some food businesses near Harlow have already been forced into bankruptcy, as they cannot make sales and their cucumbers are perishing; further notes that even before this crisis, cucumber growers had already lost a significant part of their profits due to high fuel prices; calls on the Government to take urgent steps to help British cucumber growers to access the EU aid that has been made available; asks the Government to lobby against economic sanctions such as those imposed by Russia, as cucumbers grown in the UK have not been affected by E. coli; and further asks the Government to step up its support and advocacy for the British farming industry at this difficult time.