Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Food System: Health and Sustainability

Thursday 19 October 2023 · 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 1 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government's food strategy outlines measures to support a resilient, healthier, and more sustainable food and farming system.
  • The Minister highlighted the importance of working with retailers to reduce food waste and acknowledged that significant waste occurs at the domestic level.
  • The Minister expressed enthusiasm for visiting the New Forest to discuss sustainability opportunities with the national park authority.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP is concerned about the need to support a resilient, healthier, and more sustainable food and farming system.

Question

What steps she is taking to support a healthy and sustainable food system?

Answer from Mark Spencer

The Government's food strategy set out longer-term measures to support a resilient, healthier and more sustainable food and farming system. In May, the Prime Minister's farm to fork summit built on that with a focus on how we can work together to support a thriving UK food and farming industry.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific steps being taken are not detailed, only general measures are mentioned.

How: We Are Working Closely With Retailers To Try To Reduce Food Waste And Will Continue To Do That.

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Q2 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Climate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Environment
Context

Every year, post-farm gate, 9.5 million tonnes of food that could have provided more than 15 billion perfectly edible meals is wasted with a massive carbon footprint. DEFRA's impact assessment concluded that mandatory food waste reporting would result in financial benefits to business and significant environmental benefits.

Question

Every year, post-farm gate, 9.5 million tonnes of food that could have provided more than 15 billion perfectly edible meals is wasted. That also has a massive carbon footprint. Given that DEFRA's impact assessment concluded that mandatory food waste reporting would result in financial benefits to business and significant environmental benefits and is backed by many retailers, including Tesco, why have the Government dropped their plans?

Answer from Mark Spencer

We are working closely with retailers to try to reduce food waste and will continue to do that. The hon. Member will recognise that a vast amount of food waste occurs within the domestic home, and we can do more to help and support consumers to make the most of the food they purchase.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The reason for dropping the plans is not addressed, only general work on reducing food waste is mentioned.

How: We Are Working Closely With Retailers To Try To Reduce Food Waste And Will Continue To Do That.

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Q3 Desmond Swayne Con New Forest West
Climate Environment
Context

The national park authority in the New Forest is keen to discuss opportunities for sustainability with the Minister.

Question

Sustainability is top of our agenda in the New Forest, and the national park authority is keen to discuss opportunities for it with the Minister. I have sent him an invitation—will he come?

Answer from Mark Spencer

I am excited to have an opportunity to visit the New Forest. As soon as my diary allows, I will hot-foot it down there to meet my right hon. Friend.

Answered
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Q4 Daniel Zeichner Lab Cambridge
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The right hon. Member for North East Somerset made recent comments about the benefits of importing hormone-injected beef, which sent a shudder through the industry.

Question

To maintain that healthy, sustainable food system, farmers need a level playing field, so when the right hon. Member for North East Somerset (Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg) made his recent comments about the benefits of importing hormone-injected beef, it sent a shudder through the industry. This time last year, he was at the very top of Government, alongside the Secretary of State. Given the Minister's long experience in Government, can he tell us how many others at the top of his Government privately harbour that view?

Answer from Mark Spencer

The gentleman at the top of Government—the Prime Minister—has been absolutely clear and explicit that we will not accept hormone-produced beef at any point in the future, nor will we accept chlorinated chicken. He has the backing and support of British farmers, and he will do everything he can to help and support them.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The number of government officials who harbour such views is not addressed.

How: We Will Not Accept Hormone-Produced Beef At Any Point In The Future.

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