Backbencher Rishi Sunak questions government on food security in commons return

Former prime minister Rishi Sunak returned to the House of Commons on Thursday to ask the government about food security.

The Conservative MP for the rural constituency of Richmond and Northallerton in North Yorkshire officially resigned as Tory leader on 5 July but served as leader of the opposition until earlier this month.

During environment, food and rural affairs questions, Sunak said: “In our increasingly volatile world, I’m sure the secretary of state will agree that food security is of growing importance to our national resilience.

“So I hope he can commit the new government to continue publishing the annual food security index, with the next update coming at next year’s Farm to Fork Summit.”

Environment secretary Steve Reed replied: “It’s a pleasure, of course, to take a question from the distinguished former prime minister.

“We are reviewing the data that we can publish. We want to be as open and transparent as possible. I think that’s good for the sector, it’s good for scrutiny, but we will announce in due course precisely how that operates.”

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