Farming and Food

HL Deb 28 March 2002 vol 633 cc75-6WA

Baroness David

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they will respond to the Policy Commission's report on the future of farming and food. [HL3589]

Lord Whitty

The Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs held a seminar on 26 March 2002 with leaders of the farming and food sectors and others with an interest in the environment and the rural economy and identified early actions to drive forward the commission's report. A new strategy for sustainable farming and food, incorporating a definitive response to the Policy Commission's report, will be published in the autumn. Actions to develop and deliver the strategy have been announced, including the publication today of Sustainable Food and Farming—Working Together: a document intended to focus discussion on key issues.

Copies of the document are available from the Libraries of both Houses. Details of the announcement and the document are also available in electronic form from the Defra website, www.defra.gov.uk.