Domestic Farming and Food Supply Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Stuart Anderson
Main Page: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)Department Debates - View all Stuart Anderson's debates with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Domestic Farming and Food Supply
Stuart Anderson Excerpts(1 day, 23 hours ago)
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Stuart Anderson (South Shropshire) (Con)
I regularly meet South Shropshire farmers, who work night and day to put food on the table, and hear about the challenges that they face. Does the hon. Member agree that everything should be done to unlock all the red tape that the farmers have to deal with to produce food? Food production should be considered part of national security and resilience, because we need to ensure that we are self-sufficient.
Carla Lockhart
I agree fully. Labour often says that that is part of national security, but actions speak louder than words in many ways.
Northern Ireland punches well above its weight. We have less than 3% of the UK’s population, but produce more than 10% of its food output by value. We supply about one fifth of UK egg production and approximately one sixth of its dairy, beef and poultry output. Those figures should leave Ministers in no doubt about Northern Ireland’s importance to feeding this nation. In Upper Bann, farming keeps a whole network of businesses going. The feed merchant, the machinery dealer, the haulier, the veterinary practices and the processors all depend on a viable industry. When money stops being spent on farms, those businesses feel it too.