Context
The food and drinks manufacturing sector employs more than 400,000 people directly in the UK and is a major innovator and exporter. There are concerns about potential overregulation impacting the sector.
Question
As the Minister knows, the food and drinks manufacturing sector is the largest in this country, employing more than 400,000 people directly. It is a major innovator and exporter. My concern is that the sector may get too much red tape and regulation. If we look at the obesity strategy, for example, there could be a lot of regulation with very little gain. Can she reassure me that there will be proper scrutiny of any legislation, and that the minimum burdens will be put on this sector, which is vital to our economy?
Answer from Victoria Prentis
Our manifesto was clear that we want people at home and abroad to be lining up to buy British. We are lucky to have a fantastic network of manufacturing businesses, most of which are small and medium-sized enterprises, so we are very alive to the needs of those businesses and the difficulty of excessive regulatory burdens. I am quite sure that we will debate the new obesity strategy fully, both in this House and outside. Some of the legislation can be made using powers in the Food Safety Act 1990, and other parts in the health and care Bill. We meet regularly with the sector and are keen to engage with it on a practical level as to how regulation will affect its businesses.
Not addressed: The Minister did not provide specific commitments or timelines regarding regulatory scrutiny or minimum burdens for the food and drink manufacturing sector.
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