Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Tom Brake and George Eustice

Thursday 20th July 2017 Commons Chamber

[Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington) (LD)]

6. What assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on food security of the UK leaving the EU.

[The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (George Eustice)]

Food security depends on global factors including increasing global production sustainably, reducing waste, and ensuring open markets to facilitate trade around the world. With regard to the EU, we are prioritising securing the freest trade possible, including an ambitious and comprehensive free trade agreement and a new customs agreement.

[Tom Brake]

Does the Minister accept the definition of “food security” provided by the former Government chief scientific adviser, Sir John Beddington—notably, that food security is characterised as requiring a food system that is sufficient, sustainable, safe and equitable? By reference to which indicators of food security will DEFRA be judging the food security consequences of the post-Brexit food and agricultural system?