Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Global Food Security

Thursday 23 February 2023 · 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

  • Government supporting Ukraine to export grain to countries most in need, contributing 5 million to President Zelensky's Grain from Ukraine initiative.
  • Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is responsible for planning guidelines, not the Minister's Department.
  • Working closely with the Animal and Plant Health Agency to monitor and tackle avian influenza, improving biosecurity in the sector.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Edward Leigh Con Gainsborough
Ukraine Climate Brexit
Context

The question arises from the context of global food insecurity, particularly in Ukraine. It addresses the need for long-term solutions beyond immediate aid.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to help strengthen long-term global food security?

Answer from Mark Spencer

The Government are supporting Ukraine, the breadbasket of Europe, to export grain to countries most in need, including contributing £5 million to President Zelensky's Grain from Ukraine initiative. The Government are also focused on the long-term drivers of global food insecurity, including climate change and biodiversity loss. We are supporting international programmes to improve the sustainability and resilience of global food systems.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The question specifically asked about steps being taken by the Department but the answer included general statements on long-term drivers without specific departmental actions or commitments.

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Q2 Edward Leigh Con Gainsborough
Energy Environment
Context

Concerns over planning proposals to cover agricultural land with solar panels in Gainsborough, despite the availability of alternative surfaces such as warehouse roofs.

Question

Will the Minister change the planning guidelines so that there is a presumption against building solar panels on 3b as well as 3a land? In reality, there is no difference in growing good wheat and barley between 3a and 3b land.

Answer from Mark Spencer

My right hon. Friend will be aware that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is responsible for planning. The best and most versatile land is defined as land in grades 1, 2 and 3a of the agricultural land classification, and the national planning policy framework sets out that local planning authorities should consider all the benefits of the best and most versatile land when making plans and decisions on development proposals. Where significant development of agricultural land is shown to be necessary, they should seek to use poorer-quality land in preference to higher-quality land.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The question sought changes to planning guidelines but the answer provided a general statement about existing policy without addressing specific requests for guideline changes.

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Q3 Dan Jarvis Lab Barnsley North
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The question arises from ongoing challenges with avian influenza, affecting the agricultural sector.

Question

Could the Minister give an update on progress with tackling avian influenza?

Answer from Mark Spencer

We continue to work closely with the Animal and Plant Health Agency and Government Veterinary Services to monitor this. We are working with the sector to make sure we have the best biosecurity available. There has been a fantastic response from the sector to improve its biosecurity, but we continue to face the challenge of avian influenza. The long-term solution to the challenge is a vaccine, which is not currently available, but we will give all the support we can to the scientific sector to try to develop such a vaccine.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The question asked for an update on progress and specific actions being taken, but the answer focused more on ongoing efforts and long-term goals without providing detailed updates or commitments.

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