Bishop of Newcastle asks about food security in the event of flooding or extreme weather

The Bishop of Newcastle asked a question on government plans to ensure food security in the event of extreme weather events and flooding affecting supply lines on 16th April 2024, during a discussion on compensation for farmers affected by flooding:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: Climate change and global events have exposed the vulnerability of relying on imported foods. Given the extreme weather events and flooding, the likelihood that this will continue and the impact on farming, what plans do the Government have in place to ensure food security?

Lord Douglas-Miller (Con, DEFRA): The right reverend Prelate is entirely right to raise the issue of food security, which is high on the Government’s agenda. Through our environmental land management schemes, we are ensuring that food production remains constant. We also have the food index, announced by the Prime Minister at the NFU conference in January, to measure the amount of food that the country is producing and ensure that it remains constant.

Hansard