(1 year, 6 months ago)
Lords Chamber The Lord Bishop of Newcastle
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            The Lord Bishop of Newcastle 
        
    
        
    
        Climate change and global events have exposed the vulnerability of relying on imported foods. Given the extreme weather events and flooding, the likelihood that this will continue and the impact on farming, what plans do the Government have in place to ensure food security?
 Lord Douglas-Miller (Con)
    
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Lord Douglas-Miller (Con) 
        
    
        
    
        The right reverend Prelate is entirely right to raise the issue of food security, which is high on the Government’s agenda. Through our environmental land management schemes, we are ensuring that food production remains constant. We also have the food index, announced by the Prime Minister at the NFU conference in January, to measure the amount of food that the country is producing and ensure that it remains constant.