Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Food Security

Thursday 27 October 2022 · 4 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial commitment to ensure food security and emergency preparedness is a top priority.
  • Cabinet Office is designated as the Department of resilience, addressing various security issues.
  • Invasion of Ukraine impacts food security and adds complexity to emergency planning.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Economy Benefits & Welfare Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The cost of living crisis and market unpredictability are impacting food security. Recent statements by the Children's Commissioner Anne Longfield and Henry Dimbleby have called for Cobra to be involved.

Question

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure adequate contingency planning for food security in the context of the (a) cost of living crisis and (b) market unpredictability. I thank the Minister for that response, although I notice he did not mention the cost of living crisis which was mentioned in my question. In the past week, both Anne Longfield and Henry Dimbleby have called for Cobra to be involved and to look at the extent of food poverty in this country, particularly given rising food prices.

Answer from Oliver Dowden

I hope the hon. Lady heard from the Prime Minister's comments yesterday his commitment to showing compassion in this area and I will take my duties as Cabinet Office co-ordinator to include ensuring we take a co-ordinated approach. The Government have spent many billions of pounds supporting the most vulnerable, including over £200 billion through welfare systems in 2022-23.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about Cobra involvement was not addressed.

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Q2 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Ukraine Economy Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The public is concerned that the national resilience strategy has been delayed for 14 months. Farmers and experts have criticised the government's response to food security following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Question

Half of adults are buying less food as a result of the cost of living crisis, and farmers have criticised the Government's response to food security. The national resilience strategy has been delayed for 14 months. Can this month's Minister explain why it is permanently at the bottom of the Department's in-tray? Will that change?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

First, I would hope that the hon. Lady heard from my previous answer my personal commitment as Chancellor of the Duchy to ensure this is at the top of the Government's in-tray. Of course one of the consequences of the invasion of Ukraine is greater food insecurity. That is why the Cabinet Office is taking action to co-ordinate to ensure we address that.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about the national resilience strategy timeline was not directly addressed.

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Q3 Fleur Anderson Lab Putney
Ukraine Economy
Context

The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy has concluded that no Minister is taking responsibility for ensuring the resilience of vital networks. The committee recommends a dedicated Minister of resilience.

Question

My concern, and that of others, is that this summer of chaos has left a black hole in emergency preparedness beyond food strategy—emergency resilience planning. The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy concluded in its report that no Minister is taking responsibility for ensuring the resilience of vital power, transport and communications networks.

Answer from Oliver Dowden

In essence, the Cabinet Office is the Department of resilience; it is the cornerstone of my duty as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. It is absolutely top of our agenda and of course at a time like this we are grappling with many things, including the consequences of the invasion of Ukraine.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about adopting the Joint Committee recommendations was not directly addressed.

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Q4 Fleur Anderson Lab Putney
Ukraine Transport Energy Parliamentary Procedure
Context

The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy has concluded that no Minister is taking responsibility for ensuring the resilience of vital networks. The committee recommends a dedicated Minister of resilience.

Question

This morning the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy concluded in its report that no Minister is taking responsibility for ensuring the resilience of vital power, transport and communications networks.

Answer from Oliver Dowden

In essence, the Cabinet Office is the Department of resilience; it is the cornerstone of my duty as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. It is absolutely top of our agenda and of course at a time like this we are grappling with many things, including the consequences of the invasion of Ukraine.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about adopting the Joint Committee recommendations was not directly addressed.

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