To ask Her Majesty's Government what new measures they intend to put into the current Common Agricultural Policy reappraisal negotiations to arrest the decline in United Kingdom food self-sufficiency. [HL4085]

There are no current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reappraisal negotiations, but we expect the EU Commission to publish proposals to form the basis of negotiations in 2011 leading to the next EU Budget Financial Perspective.

Measures designed to address the self-sufficiency of member states within the CAP are only likely to have a detrimental effect on the food security of member states as a whole which depend on the single market and its global trading partners for a wide diversity of supply. To ensure continued UK food security, our food supply must be reliable and resilient to shocks and crises, and ensuring food security must sit alongside other priorities such as tackling climate change and securing a healthy natural environment.

Rather than introduce self-sufficiency measures, the Government will continue to work towards radical reform of the CAP in order to enhance the integration of the single market and contribute to the food security of all member states. This will reduce the costs of food for consumers, making trade less distorting and more sustainable; with substantial reductions in the cost to taxpayers.