Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with food distribution and transport companies on the potential effects on that sector of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

As a responsible Government, we are preparing for all eventualities including that of leaving the EU without a deal. Extensive work to prepare for a no deal scenario has been underway for the last two years to ensure the country continues to operate as smoothly as possible from the day we leave.

The Government has well established ways of working with the food industry on food supply chain issues and we are using these to support preparations for leaving the EU. This includes working with Defra’s long established Food Chain Emergency Liaison Group (FCELG), which allows Government and industry to work together to plan for and respond to food supply disruption. The FCELG membership includes trade bodies from across the agri-food supply and distribution sectors and also includes other relevant Government departments, devolved administrations and agencies.

Defra will continue to work closely with food industry stakeholders to understand the impacts of a no deal scenario on the food and drink industry, as well as the contingency planning measures being taken by industry.