To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the future development of a common EU food security policy, with particular reference to issues of security of supply. (181711)

I am not aware of any plans for a future common EU food security policy. Food security has many components, including the stability and resilience of supply; the ability of the food system to withstand disruptions; food safety; nutrition and quality; and affordability. The EU has a role to play in relation to several aspects such as food safety, trade policy and agricultural policy.

What matters to security of supply is effective risk management, security of energy supplies, access to food from a variety of sources, a strong food chain and infrastructure and the capacity and contingency planning to deal with specific risks. Improved trading relationships, based on more open international markets will help facilitate these.