Extract from speech by Norman Baker MP (Lewes) at Westminster, May 2007

The first Issue that I wish to raise is food security, which might seem a rather old-fashioned subject. The Government have emphasised the need to make the farming community more economically viable. I agree with that and with many of the related issues that the Government have pursued.
However, we should have a concept of what percentage of food we want to be able to grow ourselves in 20, 30 or 40 years' time. An energy White Paper is being published today that, among other issues, will rightly consider energy self-sufficiency. Food self-sufficiency is not being addressed in the same way, but it is an important issue. I made that point the last time that I initiated a debate on farming in my constituency. I said then that:

"my view is that, in this uncertain world, we do not know where we will be in 20, let alone in 50, years' time. It would therefore be prudent for us to be more self-sufficient in food and energy than we currently are, in order to ensure that we are able to cope with potentially unstable geopolitical situations in the longer term. "
-[Offle/al Report, Westminster Hall, 9 March 2005; Vol. 431, c. 501WH.]

That is still my view.

I had a detailed response to many issues raised in that debate from the then Minister, the right hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Alun Michael), but he did not address that particular point. What is the Government's view on self-sufficiency in agriculture and how it can benefit the country in 20 years' time? What is the overall plan? Is there a target? I suppose that there is not, but what is the general view on that issue?
[Interruption.]
Well, such matters affect my East Sussex constituents in the same way as they affect the rest of the country. I hope that the Minister will accept the issues that I am raising, as farmers in my constituency have asked me to draw them to his attention.