Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make it his policy to ensure that Government policy on food (a) security and (b) supply complies with Article 11 of the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

In relation to international food security, the UK Government has a significant portfolio of agriculture projects in poorer countries (£322 million spend in 2018) focused on investing in commercial agriculture and livelihoods and on improving food security and sustainable food supply.

We are adapting our international programmes in agriculture, nutrition and food security in response to the current situation, made worse by COVID-19, to help reduce the scale of a major food security emergency; build resilience; and prepare for sustainable recovery. The UK helped achieve agreement at the G20 this year on actions to the free flow of agricultural products and other essential goods and services in response to COVID-19.