Oral Answers to Questions

Geraint Davies Excerpts

Thursday 12th January 2023 Commons Chamber

[Dr Coffey]

More air quality sensors are being put in place across the country. The hon. Lady will know that it is a devolved matter in Wales, so that is for them. Local authorities are doing this already. What worries me is that too many local authority leaders, particularly in Greater Manchester and London, are dragging their heels about improving air quality. We need to ensure that all our local authorities have a focused plan on how we make that happen.

[Geraint Davies (Swansea West) (Lab/Co-op)]

3. What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the UK’s food security.

[John Spellar (Warley) (Lab)]

4. What steps she is taking to strengthen domestic food security.

[The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Dr Thérèse Coffey)]

The first UK food security report was published in December 2021, which showed that the UK has a highly resilient and diverse food supply chain. We produce 61% of the food we need in the UK, complemented by strong trade links, and that figure has changed little over the last 20 years. We also published the Government food strategy last June, setting out a commitment to maintain broadly the current level of food we produce domestically and boost production in sectors with the biggest opportunities.

[Geraint Davies]

On food security and fish stocks, Newcastle University believes the mass killing of crabs, lobsters and other crustaceans off the north-east coast is due to dredging ahead of the freeport, but the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has dismissed it as a natural event due to algae bloom and has set up an inquiry, with a secret panel meeting in private, despite the fact that the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has asked for an open and transparent inquiry that is done independently. Will the Secretary of State commit to an independent evaluation of the evidence, to protect all our coasts from the massive destruction from toxic emissions ahead of freeports—

[Dr Coffey]

rose—

[Geraint Davies]

—from dredging.

[Mr Speaker]

Secretary of State, I will decide when you come in.