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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many responses have been received to the National Food Strategy’s Call for Evidence; and if she will make a statement on the progress of the independent review led by Henry Dimbleby.

The National Food Strategy independent review, led by Henry Dimbleby, was launched in June 2019. A Call for Evidence was held from 17 August 2019 to 25 October 2019. 1979 responses were received and these responses are currently being analysed.

Since the review’s launch, Henry and his team have engaged extensively across the food system, academia, industry, civil society and citizens. This engagement will continue as the work progresses in order to ensure that the review’s recommendations are based upon robust analysis of evidence and diverse insights from across the food system. This includes a number of public engagement events in 2020, ensuring that citizens’ voices are heard as part of the process. An Interim Report will be published in early 2020 and the review’s final report and recommendations will be published in winter 2020/21.