HC Deb 15 April 2003 vol 404 cc33-4W
Mr. Roger Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department(a) is taking and (b) is taking jointly with other departments to protect (i) farms and (ii) food imports from the threat of terrorist action. [105074]

Mr. Morley

There is no information to indicate a specific threat to the agriculture or food industry in the UK, but if such a threat should arise then specific advice targeted to the nature of the threat will be provided. The Home Office terrorism website (www.homeoffice.gov.uk/terrorism/index.html) currently contains general advice to the public and this will be updated and changed in accordance with the perceived threat. The Home Office publication "Bombs Protecting People and Property" also provides counter-terrorist security advice, specifically aimed at managers of businesses and organisations large or small and to local government. More specific advice and guidance is available from local police forces.

In addition, with the agreement of other departments, the Food Standards Agency reminded the food industry in November 2002 of the importance of maintaining vigilance against potential malicious attacks on the food supply. This was a general reminder rather than a response to any new intelligence suggesting a specific threat. This advice remains current.

Defra at official and ministerial level, take a full and active part in the work in central government to improve contingency planning and seek to involve all our stakeholders, in Government, agencies and industries, in the process. This latter point is vital to achieving an improved response to any emergency: the Civil Contingences Committee (CCC) chaired by the Home Secretary and dealing with civil contingencies matters (membership and terms of reference can be found on the Cabinet Office Website: www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/cabsec/2003/cabcom/ccc.htm) the Defence and Overseas Policy Sub-Committee chaired by the Home Secretary and dealing with Protective and Preventative Security (DOP(IT)(T)) (membership and terms of reference can be found on the Cabinet Office Website: www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/cabsec/2003/cabcom/dopjtr.htm) the Defence and Overseas Policy Sub-Committee chaired by the Home Secretary and dealing with consequence management and resilience (DOP(1T)(R)) (membership and terms of reference can be found on the Cabinet Office Website: www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/cabsec/2003/cabcom/dopjtr.htm).