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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the food security implications of the UK leaving the EU on (a) world trade rules, (b) remaining in the Single Market and Customs Union and (c) any other trade scenarios.

Food supply is highly resilient with capacity throughout the supply chain, and industry can respond quickly to ensure ongoing supply. The UK has a strong balance between domestic production and diverse sources of supply, which has been stable for a number of years.

Food security depends on factors including increasing global production sustainably, reducing waste and ensuring open markets to facilitate trade. None of the potential scenarios regarding our trading relationship with the EU is likely to have a significant impact on food security.