At the National Farmers Union Drop-In I spoke to people in the farming industry about food security and farming. Farmers are having to face rising input costs eg. energy, fertilisers and soil improvers and animal feed.There is an impact on the dairy sector, livestock and horticulture - a recent report suggested that growers cost of production has increased by as much as 27% in the preceding 12 months with products such as tomatoes ,broccoli, apples and root vegetables most affected. the main drivers are energy, fertiliser and workforce costs.In the poultry sector, egg production has fallen to its lowest level in 9 years and is down 12%in one year alone. the sector is facing unprecedented energy and feed costs.
I discussed with Minette Batters, the President of the NFU, about food security and farming, and that a culmination of unprecedented events resulted in farmers facing unsustainable pressures on their businesses which could have long-term implications on our domestic food production capacity and food security.  Farm input cost inflation stands at 42% with wholesale energy prices being 1.5 times higher. In 2019 there were 149,000 agricultural registered businesses , in 2022 there were 142,000. This means there are 7,000 fewer agricultural businesses in the UK today than in 2019.Unless there is action from all parts of the supply chain this will lead to a deepening crisis which will lead to many farmers having no option other than to leave the sector. We must act and DEFRA needs to conduct investigations into market issues.

On the 5th June 2023 , The Minister Jeremy Quinn made a statement to the House on the Government's position on issuing Judicial Review proceedings on the Covid 19 Inquiry to prevent all documents being produced to the Chair of the Inquiry.  The Chair, Dame Heather Hallett has asked for documents to be produced so that she as the Chair can decide what is relevant. It may not necessarily be for disclosure but it would be for the Chair to decide. I asked the Minister:   

The Secretary for Health and Social Care presented a statement on Patients Choice on Thursday 25 May 2023. I asked the Secretary of State a question. I started with a tribute to Karen Lumley a former MP who sadly died. 

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly 19-22 May 2023 Spring Session took place at the European Convention Centre Luxembourg. The delegation met with our Ambassador Fleur Thomas who briefed us on the background and the issues in the country. Nearly 44% of the population have come from outside Luxembourg. The local standing communities are the Portuguese and the Italians. Luxembourg has the highest GDP per head of population.




The UK delegation had two bilateral meetings. the first with the Ukraine delegation (right) and s delegation from Belarus with the national Leader of Belarus and head of the United Transition Cabinet, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.



The Plenary session took place on Monday 22 May 2023 and we heard from the President of the Parliamentary Assembly  Joelle Garriaud-Maylam, and the Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg HE Mr Xavier Bettell (left) and other speakers.

There were two Declarations which we agreed subject to amendments. There was a vote on the amendments and the Declarations.  The Declarations were " A New Nato in an Age of Strategic Competition: Accelerationg NATO's adaptation at the Vilnius Summit and 2. Untied and Resolute in Support of Ukraine. A key amendment was to explicitly recognize the Wagner Group as a criminal and terrorist organisation and to firmly condemn its actions in Ukraine and other parts of the world. The Declarations will be forwarded to the Villnius Summit in Lithuania for consideration by the NATO members.



The first session of the Political Committee heard reports on Russia's War against Ukraine:Rethinking the Global Order and lessons Learned for NATO. On the Report: The future of NATOs Open Door policy, I asked if the process for Ukraine to be given candidate status could be included in the Report making it clear what needs to be done for candidate status as the EU have granted. (Para 61). It was agreed to be included. (Left UK delegation with Ukraine observers)

An important report was presented to the Political Committee by Theo Francken (Belgium) entitled Shifting Geopolitics in Iran and the Gulf I acknowledged  it was a prescient report which noted that the Gulf monarchies are seeking to deepen their own ties with China and Russia. It is vital to ensure that the Centre for Democratic Resilience is set up as agreed within NATO HQ.




Finland accession to NATO was welcomed and it is hoped that Sweden's membership will be complete by the Villnius Summit. NATO also has established an office in Japan. The next summit will be held in Villnius, Lithuania on 11-12 July 2023.

On Wednesday 24 May 2023 the House of Commons considered Lords amendments to the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.