Dr Therese Coffey to be quizzed by MPs on environment, food and rural affairs issues - Watch live Dec 6th 2pm

1 Dec 2022

The Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Dr Thérèse Coffey MP, is to be questioned on a wide range of topics - from the rising cost of living to sewage pollution - by MPs on the parliamentary committee that scrutinises her department.

With food inflation at its highest rate for many years, Dr Coffey may be asked about government assistance for farmers facing high feed, fertilizer and fuel costs as well how DEFRA , working with other government departments, supports low-income families accessing healthy nutritious food.

There are also likely to be questions on labour shortages in the food and farming sectors and the issuing of visas to foreign workers. An EFRA Committee inquiry that published a report in April 2022 heard from the National Farmers Union that labour shortages were “probably the single biggest issue” facing food supply chains.

The Secretary of State may also be questioned on the range of environmental targets her department is due to set - then deliver on - under the Environment Act 2021. The deadline for publishing these targets has already passed.

Evidence Session

Work of the Department

Tuesday 6 December at 2.00 pm in The Grimond Room, Portcullis House

Watch live on parliamentlive.tv

Find the recording here: Parliamentlive.tv - Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Witnesses

• Rt Hon Dr Thérèse Coffey MP, Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
• Tamara Finkelstein, Permanent Secretary, DEFRA