Asked by: Ben Coleman (Labour - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of food poverty on children's health inequalities; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of including measures to increase access to affordable, nutritious food in deprived communities in the food strategy.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK Food Security Report (published on GOV.UK in December 2024) reported that 31% of households with children under 16 are reported to be food insecure. The food strategy will support access to affordable food, target costs that lead to food price inflation and include measures to increase access to affordable, nutritious food in deprived communities. This will support those who most need access to healthy, affordable nutrition or may cut back on food in face of other pressures.
This is alongside wider Government work, such as the Child Poverty Strategy, published in December, which sets out a decade-long mission to tackle the drivers of child poverty across the UK.
Asked by: Ben Coleman (Labour - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will (a) publish targets and delivery mechanisms in the implementation of the food strategy to reduce food insecurity and improve population health and (b) set out plans to monitor and report progress to Parliament.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Good Food Cycle identifies for the first time the outcomes wanted from the food system. It is the first part of an on-going programme to create a healthier, more affordable, sustainable and resilient food system. The Government is developing plans to support food strategy outcomes. It is too early to confirm any mechanisms for delivery, monitoring and reporting.
The food strategy will support access to affordable food and include measures to increase access to affordable, nutritious food in deprived communities, and aim to make more of the food that is available to buy healthier, more nutritious and more affordable.
Asked by: Ben Coleman (Labour - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which Departments are working on the development of a food strategy; which Department is leading this work; what the strategy's aims are; and what his planned timetable is for the completion of the strategy.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
Addressing the issues the food sector faces requires a whole-of-government effort, so while Defra is leading the strategy we will be working in very close collaboration with several government departments. Our ambitious food strategy will set and deliver clear long-term outcomes that create a healthier, fairer, and more resilient food system. We will provide details of how the process will operate, how industry can engage, and what the milestones will be in the coming months.
Asked by: Ben Coleman (Labour - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to the maximum residue level of 49 pesticide residues between 2022 and 2024 on levels of pesticide residues on food; and what steps his Department is taking to protect the (a) food supply and (b) environment from harmful pesticides.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government’s first priority with regard to pesticides is to ensure that they will not harm people or pose unacceptable risks to the environment. We will continue to base decisions on the use of pesticides on careful scientific assessment of the risks. This provides a high level of protection for people and the environment.
The GB pesticide Maximum Residue Level (MRL) regime sets high standards of consumer protection to ensure no harmful effects on human health. GB MRLs are set below, and usually well below, the level considered to be safe for people to eat.
The MRLs apply to both food produced domestically and that imported from other countries. Our ongoing monitoring programme provides assurance that food complies with the rules and is safe to eat. It is led by the Health and Safety Executive with advice from the Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food.