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

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the recent report by Barnardo’s and the Co-op, Deeper Roots, Stronger Futures: unlocking the potential of food partnerships with young people, what plans they have to engage with those organisations and others, including the Local Government Association, Sustainable Food Places, and Feeding Britain, to promote best practice on food partnerships.

Towards a Good Food Cycle, the UK government food strategy for England, published on 15 July, sets out the Government's plans to transform the food system. A UK government food strategy for England - GOV.UK

As we develop the food strategy, we will be considering how we can better support local and place-based initiatives, to deliver the changes needed to deliver our health, sustainability and resilience outcomes. Recognising the interconnectedness and interdependence of food systems across the UK, we are working closely with the devolved governments, including Wales, to ensure alignment with their own strategies. In addition we are working with the Local Government Association to better understand the role of local authorities in supporting resilient local food systems.

Departments across the Government have worked together to agree the outcomes required to deliver food system change. This has been supported by advice from across the food system, academia, civil society, and citizens, and including Sustainable Food Places, Barnardo’s and Co-op.

The Department will continue to work with partners and seek views from across the whole food system. This includes seeking opportunities to capture the views of and listen to people of all ages including the young, the old and those with disabilities whose voices are not traditionally heard, as we develop our approach and plot a route to deliver the outcomes. Everyone, including young people, will benefit from a Good Food Cycle, and a number of outcomes in our food strategy are particularly important for young people, touching on children's health, food education, and jobs and skills in the food sector.