Global Biodiversity Loss and National Security Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Lord West of Spithead
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Global Biodiversity Loss and National Security
Lord West of Spithead Excerpts(1 day, 12 hours ago)
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Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
First, I congratulate the noble Baroness on a significant birthday this weekend. Secondly, as she knows, I am a great supporter of horticulture; I have recently been speaking to the Farming Minister about it and will continue to do so.
Lord West of Spithead (Lab)
My Lords, 40% of our food comes from abroad. Should there be a World War III, the Royal Navy would be responsible, as in the past, for ensuring that that flow of food continued. Does my noble friend the Minister agree that we really need to get some haste in building the new frigates and getting a rolling programme going to ensure that we have security of our food supply?
Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
I am starting to get a bit alarmed about the number of questions referring to World War III, but the noble Lord is right: food security is of critical importance. I am sure that right across every department we will do everything we can to ensure that, should World War III come anytime soon, we will have good food security in our country.