Saturday Essay in the Grocer by John Stevenson MP
17 July 2010 – Saturday Essay in the Grocer by John Stevenson MP
Political support is necessary to boost recovery
As the first Conservative MP to have been elected for Carlisle since 1959, I am
proud of our city's strong industrial heritage, which boasts a diverse mix of
leading manufacturers including top food producers Carr's Milling, Nestlé and
United Biscuits.
So I am delighted to have been elected chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary
Food and Drink Manufacturing Group (APPG).
As the UK's largest manufacturing industry, the food and drink sector will play
an important role in efforts to rebalance the economy away from over-reliance
on
financial services.
The sector has always provided economic stability during turbulent times and
seems to have weathered the recent economic storms better than most.
A recent report from the Institute for Manufacturing at the University of
Cambridge shows that the food industry reduced its output least during the
economic
downturn and has returned to pre-recession output levels fastest. While the
index
of production for all manufacturing is currently at 90 basis points, for
instance, the food sector is at 99 basis points a 1% difference compared with
2005
levels.
Despite its success, there are many challenges facing the industry not least how
it goes about encouraging talented people to choose food manufacturing as a
career destination. The image of the food sector is one of temporary and
relatively
low-paid employment. The Institute for Manufacturing's report, commissioned by
the Food and Drink Federation, dispelled some myths and found that jobs in the
industry reflect its growing innovation base and increasing productivity and
skills are rising accordingly. But image problems clearly remain.
The APPG provides a forum for meaningful dialogue about these sorts of
challenges ensuring MPs are more aware of the concerns of a sector that
directly employs
about 440,000 people and on which a further 1.2 million jobs depend.
With food issues high on the political agenda, the group will also ensure that
the sector is supported in important policy debates, and that MPs understand
the
financial, strategic and social contributions of the industry.
The Institute for Manufacturing has been asked by the Food and Drink Federation
to conduct a second phase of research, looking at the challenges for food and
drink manufacturing as companies try to define their role in ensuring the
nation's
future food security.
Such work will be important in helping the group and our colleagues elsewhere in
parliament to understand how best to create a sustainable future for food
production and consumption by harnessing the power of the industry to invest
and
innovate, rather than developing policies or regulations that undermine the
sector.
But while we want to ensure MPs are aware of the concerns of the industry, it is
important the group also acts as a critical friend to the food sector raising
issues we believe companies should address.
In political terms, food has never been so exciting, and manufacturing per se is
rightly at the heart of the debates about the future economic health of the UK.
John Stevenson MP is chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Food & Drink
Manufacturing Group.
Read online: Saturday Essay in the Grocer by John Stevenson MP - 17 July 2008, The Grocer