| answer text |
<p><del class="ministerial">It has not proved possible to respond to this question
in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with
the Member.</del></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">Defra is the lead Government
department for food and water in Her Majesty’s Government and these sectors are two
of the 13 Critical National Infrastructure Sectors in the UK. The food and water sectors
are making detailed preparations for all eventualities as we prepare to leave the
EU, and rationing will not be implemented.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The
UK’s high degree of food security is built on access to a range of sources including
strong domestic production and imports from other countries. This will continue to
be the case when we leave the EU whatever the circumstances. The UK Government has
well established ways of working with the food industry. Defra Ministers and officials
meet regularly with the food industry, who are experienced in dealing with scenarios
that can affect food supply, to support contingency planning by the industry as we
prepare to leave the EU.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We are confident that
no deal will not have an impact on water supply. We have been working closely with
water companies, chemical suppliers, regulators and the devolved administrations on
contingency planning, and companies are well advanced in their preparations to make
sure they can meet their statutory responsibility to maintain services. It will be
the case that our water will continue to be safe and of the same quality customers
expect when we leave the EU. </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The food and water
sectors are engaged with Local Resilience Forums to ensure effective delivery of these
sectors at the local level.</ins></p>
|
|
