Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve the UK's food production to supply ratio; and if he will make a statement.

We are working with farmers, food and drink manufacturers and retailers to ensure the UK has the right climate to attract increased inward investment and to enable UK producers to grow and compete on global and domestic markets.

To support the agricultural industry to improve productivity and competitiveness, the Government is investing £160 million in an industry-led UK Strategy for Agricultural Technologies. Other activities in support of the food and drink sector include: enabling consumers to select British products through country of origin labelling; working with individual sectors, such as dairy and livestock, to increase their competitiveness; and supporting industry activities to develop a skilled workforce and increase innovation.

We are also improving public procurement of food and catering services so that it contributes to a competitive UK food and farming sector.

To help UK producers grasp opportunities on the global market, Defra and UKTI launched the ‘International Export Action Plan' and ‘Food is GREAT' campaign. The Export Action Plan outlines an ambitious target, jointly agreed by Government and industry, to help 1,000 UK food and drink companies with their international growth by October 2015, adding a further £500 million to the economy. Defra Ministers are working hard to personally visit priority overseas markets, champion the best of British food and break down barriers to trade.