MINISTERS have been urged to disassociate themselves from criticism of the agriculture and fisheries sectors reported to have been made by a senior Government adviser.

In leaked emails seen by the Mail on Sunday, Dr Tim Leunig is understood to have said the food sector was "not critically important" to the country's economy - and that agriculture and fisheries "certainly isn't".

The economic adviser to the Chancellor was also reported to have said ministers could follow the example of Singapore which is "rich without having its own agricultural sector".

In the Lords, Opposition spokeswoman Baroness Jones of Whitchurch asked what message such comments sent to sectors already "nervous about their future".

Lady Jones said: "We want a vibrant UK agriculture and fishery industry and we want to encourage UK consumers to buy British and have faith in locally accessed food."

Urging ministers to disassociate themselves from the comments, she called for them to "send a message back to the Treasury that they shouldn't be employing or listening to advisers who are so out of kilter with the views of most politicians and the vast majority of the British public".

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs minister Lord Gardiner of Kimble said sustainable harvests from the seas and farming sector were absolutely crucial to the nation.

"As far as I am concerned it is in the national interest that we have a vibrant farming and fisheries sector," he told Lady Jones.

The exchanges came in a committee stage debate on the Fisheries Bill, which enables the UK to become an independent coastal state post-Brexit, with foreign fishing boats barred from fishing in UK waters unless licensed to do so.

The Government has distanced itself from the comments made by the Treasury adviser, although they are likely to propel industry fears that ministers could ditch safeguards for farmers and fishermen in the forthcoming post-Brexit trade talks with the US and the European Union.

A spokesman said yesterday: "We have made clear the comments are not in line with Government policy."

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