HC Deb 30 January 1997 vol 289 c356W
Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department is taking to encourage more urban food growing; and if he will make a statement. [13010]

Mrs. Browning

The Department's responsibility for food growing is restricted to production on a commercial scale which, by its very nature, tends to be undertaken by agricultural and horticultural enterprises situated in predominately rural and farming areas. Urban production tends to be of the small-scale type associated with leisure, gardening and allotments and is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary for State for the Environment.