Food Industry

Oral Answers to Questions — Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – in the House of Commons am 10:30 am ar 25 Mawrth 2010.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Hugh Bayley Hugh Bayley NATO Parliamentary Assembly UK Delegation 10:30, 25 Mawrth 2010

What steps his Department is taking to assist the food industry in the current economic climate.

Photo of Nia Griffith Nia Griffith Llafur, Llanelli

What steps his Department is taking to assist the food industry in the current economic climate.

Photo of Hilary Benn Hilary Benn The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Mr. Speaker, it would not be right to let this moment pass without remembering our good friend and colleague, Ashok Kumar, who died so suddenly last week. He was my Parliamentary Private Secretary for seven years, so I find it hard to believe that when I turn my head I will not see him sitting behind me. He was a gentle man, a pioneer and extremely proud of his Indian heritage. He was a scientist and, above all, he was a magnificent fighter for his constituents. I know that the whole House will mourn his passing.

The Government are taking a number of steps to support the UK food industry, which is our biggest manufacturing sector, including the Food 2030 strategy; more investment in research and development; consulting on a supermarket ombudsman; the agri-skills plan; and the work of the task forces to assist the pig sector and to encourage more production and consumption of fruit and vegetables.

Photo of Hugh Bayley Hugh Bayley NATO Parliamentary Assembly UK Delegation

Like my right hon. Friend, I mourn and miss Ashok Kumar greatly. I knew him very well; he was a close personal friend and constituency neighbour.

I welcome the Food 2030 document that the Secretary of State has produced, but will the Government make additional funding available for research to enable food manufacturers and farmers to produce food with a lower carbon footprint and less impact on the environment?

Photo of Hilary Benn Hilary Benn The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

We have responded to the call for even more investment in research in the food and farming sector, particularly with the additional funding of £50 million announced by the Technology Strategy Board last year. The board was set up to look at opportunities for the future for industry in the UK, so the fact that it has recognised the sector is warmly welcomed, and it will support a wide range of research. My hon. Friend is right: we will have to produce more food in a way that reduces our carbon emissions.

Photo of Nia Griffith Nia Griffith Llafur, Llanelli

My right hon. Friend will know that my hon. Friend Albert Owen has introduced a Bill to establish a grocery ombudsman. Will my right hon. Friend do everything in his power to ensure that the Bill reaches the statute book, so that an ombudsman can be established?

Photo of Hilary Benn Hilary Benn The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

As my hon. Friend will be aware, the Government-having carefully considered the Competition Commission's recommendation-have accepted the need for a means to enforce the new grocery supply code of practice. We are in the middle of a consultation on the most effective enforcement mechanism, and clearly a person or persons will need to undertake that job. I hope that everyone will contribute to that consultation so that we can get on with this as soon as possible.

Photo of Christopher Fraser Christopher Fraser Ceidwadwyr, South West Norfolk

According to the Food and Drink Federation, this sector is the only manufacturing sector to record an increase in production throughout January 2010. What lessons will the Minister take from that?

Photo of Hilary Benn Hilary Benn The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Well, it shows the resilience and strength of the sector despite the difficult economic circumstances that we have been going through. It is a tribute to the skill and professionalism of those who work in the sector and it is further evidence that over the months and years ahead we will see increased demand for food, food production and food products. We will need farmers and those working in the food sector to produce that food. The fact that it is our largest manufacturing sector, employing some 3.6 million people, is a sign of its strength and importance.

Photo of Tim Farron Tim Farron Shadow Secretary of State (Environment)

May I add my words of regret at the passing of Ashok Kumar, whom I first met in 1991 on the streets during the Langbaurgh by-election? It is always confounding to meet an opponent who turns out to be full of warmth, integrity and decency. He will be very sadly missed.

One way to assist the food industry would be to ensure that British food producers stay in business. My survey of food producers in Lancashire and Cumbria shows that more than 80 per cent. are still waiting for their single farm payment and face business collapse as a consequence. Will the Secretary of State intervene directly to ensure immediate interim payments to keep our farmers and food producers in business?

Photo of Hilary Benn Hilary Benn The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his kind words about Ashok Kumar.

As the hon. Gentleman will be aware, 93 per cent. of the payments have been made and the Rural Payments Agency has once again exceeded the targets that we set, so its recovery is continuing. As he will know, interim payments create some difficulties, but we have always made it very clear that if farmers are genuinely in dire circumstances they should contact the RPA and we will see what we can do.