AQW 4826/22-27

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 18/10/2022
Answered On Date: 26/10/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to ensure that every person living in Northern Ireland has access to sufficient affordable food.

Answer:

I am very concerned about the serious cost of living challenges that people in Northern Ireland are facing as the impacts of energy prices and rising food prices are being felt right across our communities, especially by the most vulnerable in our society. Simply, we must be able to eat and heat our homes.

I am committed to protecting Northern Ireland’s food supplies making sure that everyone can access safe quality food at prices they can afford. My Department is committed to developing and implementing processes which aim to address issues which may affect the supply of food to Northern Ireland, including a long term solution for food movements to Northern Ireland.

I wrote to the former DEFRA Secretary of State, Ranil Jayawardena MP on 07 September 2022 outlining a number of concerns including the impact of the cost of living crisis on NI industry and citizens and the Northern Ireland Protocol. I have urged that we work collaboratively to develop pragmatic and proportional solutions to provide surety to the people of NI.

I have continued to engage regularly with UK Government at a senior level and drive home the importance of national collaboration on these issues.

My Officials have significant ongoing engagement with industry stakeholders, Defra, other devolved administrations and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (ROI) on those cross-cutting issues relating to reducing the impacts of volatility in price and supply of key industry inputs.