Carmichael to lead major parliamentary debate on food security

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has welcomed confirmation this week that he has successfully secured a debate in Parliament on food security. Mr Carmichael secured approval for the debate from the Backbench Business Committee, with over 60 MPs, including five Select Committee chairs, signed on to speak in the debate so far. The date of the debate remains to be confirmed.

Mr Carmichael is Chair of the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, which is leading a number of inquiries relating to food security issues.

Mr Carmichael said:

“I am delighted that the committee has agreed to allocate time for this vital debate. There are few things more fundamental to both farmers and food producers, and the British public as consumers, than the security of our future food supply. From the conflict in the Middle East, which has driven up the cost of fuel, fertiliser and other farming input costs, to ongoing debate over future land us frameworks – to name just a few – there is a myriad of policy areas worthy of discussion.

“For many years questions around UK food security were treated as a second order concern, but the Covid pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and more recent trade and military conflicts have shown that the stability and affordability of UK food supplies is no longer something we can take for granted.

“There is a clear and broad consensus that “food security is national security”. To date, however, there has been little policy detail to flesh out what meaningful food security for the long term looks like for the UK.

“All areas of the country, whether agricultural or not, have an interest in the UK’s long-term food security – this is an opportunity both to set out our priorities as a country, and for the government to respond accordingly.”