Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

UK Food Production

Thursday 28 April 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK currently produces about 60% of all the food it needs.
  • CF Fertilisers factory in the minister's constituency has stopped production due to high energy costs.
  • Government plans to produce an annual report on national food security every three years.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Justin Madders Lab Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP asked for an estimate of the level of food UK farmers will produce over the next three years. He referenced a detailed report published at the end of last year.

Question

What estimate does he have made of the level of food that will be produced by UK farmers in each of the next three years?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

We currently produce about 60% of all the food we need and 74% of all the food we can grow or rear here. We monitor the level of production extremely carefully, as the Secretary of State said earlier, and published a detailed report at the end of last year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP asked for an estimate of future production levels over the next three years, but the answer provided only current statistics without a forecast or projection.

How: Provided Current Statistics Instead Of Forecasting

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Q2 Justin Madders Lab Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
Energy Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP referenced the closure of a fertiliser plant due to high energy costs, impacting local jobs and farmers' ability to produce food.

Question

With CF Fertilisers in his constituency stopping production because of high energy costs, he wonders what knock-on effects this will have on availability and cost for consumers over the next two or three years. He inquired about the factory not reopening despite rocketing fuel prices and food prices. Does the Minister agree more must be done?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

I chaired a fertiliser taskforce several weeks ago, and the strong message from Government, those who work in the industry and those who supply fertiliser to the industry was that we should have confidence in this year's fertiliser supply. We will continue to work together to monitor the situation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP asked about future impacts on food production, but the answer focused on current messaging and monitoring without addressing future concerns or commitments.

How: Reiterated Confidence In Supply Without Addressing Future Concerns

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Q3 Neil Parish Con
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP asked about the frequency of national food security assessments, referencing a Select Committee recommendation for annual reports due to ongoing challenges.

Question

In light of the Secretary of State's comments and Lord Plumb's contributions to agriculture and food in the UK, the MP asked if my hon. Friend would reconsider producing an annual report on national food security after the 2020 Select Committee recommendation.

Answer from Victoria Prentis

My hon. Friend knows that food is always at the very top of my agenda, and the nation's food security is as well. We have discussed the right frequency for that report's sequencing many times. The three-year timescale is about right.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP asked for reconsideration of annual reports, but the answer reaffirmed the existing schedule without addressing the request for change.

How: Reaffirmed Current Schedule Without Considering Annual Reports

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