Sandys: Protect Agricultural Land to Address High Food Prices

In support of shoppers across Thanet and Sandwich, today Laura Sandys MP introduced a Bill in Parliament to prevent local authorities granting planning permission on Grade 1 Agricultural Land.

“we have a lot of really good land in East Kent that must be secured for food production not development.  We need to ensure that locally we support our local producers and try where possible to buy local food.”

By safeguarding Britain’s agricultural land, the Bill aims to ensure the UK can produce food domestically. This will reduce its heavy reliance on international markets which has left consumers vulnerable to food price spikes. Last year alone, costs were passed directly onto shopping trolleys across Thanet as consumers bore the brunt of a 4.6% increase in the cost of food. The Bill aims to reinstate the protection that was in place when food production was part of our national security considerations and seen as a strategic asset.

In her speech, Sandys said: “We need a statutory defence against those who might want to build on our most productive land. Our capacity to produce food is not seen as a strategic asset. Not important to the country, its economy and the population’s well being.  We must now start regarding food security with the zeal that we are approaching energy security.  Domestic energy supply is seen as critical in our long term energy security. So while we understand that reliance on volatile suppliers of energy is bad for economic growth, stability and consumers, in the area of food security, we need to start to put in the measures that will give us further certainty in terms of price, production and vulnerability of supply.”

 

Watch the Debate: http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=8279 – go to 2 hours along the dial at the bottom of the screen

Read the Debate: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110511/debtext/110511-0001.htm#11051175000002