Food

Lord Krebs
asked Her Majesty's Government:

In light of recent price increases of many basic foods and global shortages of certain commodities, what proactive steps they are taking. [HL3290]

The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker)
The Prime Minister has written to the Japanese Prime Minister asking him, as chair of the G8, to take action in a number of key areas in response to rising food prices. The Prime Minister also hosted a food summit on 22 April 2008 to consider these issues. The current increase in food commodity prices is due to a number of factors and the Government are looking at a range of short- and medium-term responses to the current situation, including how, through co-ordinated international action, we can support the world's poor and developing economies in which access to food is most under threat.