§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the current threat to the food chain from terrorism. [104905]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 25 March 2003]: The terrorist threat to the UK, including the threat to the food chain, is monitored very closely by the Government and we and the industry remain vigilant. Advice on any terrorist threat to the UK is the 132W responsibility of the Security Service. The Director General of the Security Service is responsible to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary for this advice, which is provided on a continual basis. Strategic assessments about terrorist threats to the UK are provided to the Government by the Joint Intelligence Committee.
§ Mr. Roger WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what recent steps her Department has taken in conjunction with(a) other EU member states and (b) local authorities to prevent terrorist action against (i) agriculture and (ii) food supplies; [105088]
(2) what recent steps her Department has taken in conjunction with other EU member states to prevent terrorist action against European (i) agriculture and (ii) food supplies. [105087]
§ Mr. MorleyDEFRA is heavily engaged in the central government programme to improve civil contingency planning, especially in areas relating to our departmental responsibilities. Planning is developed and agreed with stakeholders, both in government and industry, including food and agriculture interests, to ensure that the UK's resilience to emergencies of all kinds, including possible terrorist action against the UK food chain, is improved.