Food: Food Banks Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Lord Davies of Coity
Main Page: Lord Davies of Coity (Labour - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Davies of Coity's debates with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(10 years, 12 months ago)
Lords ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Lord De Mauley
My noble friend asks an important question. We have been working closely with the Commission and other member states with regard to the communication on sustainable food. We met members of the food and drink sector before responding to the Commission’s consultation in October. We have also convened a meeting between interested parties and the Commission. It is a very complex matter but we have ensured that the Commission is aware of the many sustainability and resource-efficiency initiatives undertaken by the UK food industry in recent years.
Lord Davies of Coity (Lab)
My Lords, does the Minister remember that a very long time ago a man by the name of Galbraith coined the phrase “private affluence and public squalor”? In view of the increase in poverty and the growth of food banks, does the Minister believe that this country is heading for the same situation?
Lord De Mauley
No, my Lords, and I think I have somewhat laboured the point as to the policy initiatives that we are following.