Essay by APPG Chairman, Bill Wiggin MP

Saturday Essay, which featured in the Grocer on Saturday, 30 August 2008 (page 20)

Bill Wiggin
MP for Leominster
Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Food and Drink Manufacturing Industry Group

Why an All Party Parliamentary Group focused specifically on the food and drink manufacturing industry sector? The simple answer is that arguably food has never been higher on the political agenda than it is today and many of us in both Houses believe it is vital that the UK's largest manufacturing sector is supported in the important policy debates that are now taking place in Parliament and beyond.

So that's a key aim of the group of which I am proud to be chairman. Currently we have over 40 Parliamentarians in our membership and we expect to build on this in the coming months.

We hope that our group will provide a forum for a meaningful dialogue about the issues that are creating the biggest headaches for food and drink manufacturers. In so doing, we want to ensure that parliamentarians are more aware of the concerns of a sector that directly employs something like 470,000 people, and on which a further 1.2 million jobs depend for their survival.

Recently, for instance, we hosted a timely debate on food prices. This has become something of a political hot potato in recent months, fuelled in part by the justifiable concerns of voters about the spiralling cost of living and in part, of course, by some pretty hysterical media coverage. Little wonder, therefore, that our inaugural event proved popular. A packed Committee room in the House of Commons was the venue for a lively debate, with five speakers from across the entire food chain on hand to debunk a few myths and explain what was really happening – as well as predicting what may yet be in store for consumers.

What can politicians do about the food pricing issue? We can develop a better understanding of the complex global forces at play and take the time to peek beneath the lurid headlines to understand the reality of how manufacturers have been helping to keep a lid on food price inflation.

Hosting such debates provides a useful point of reference for parliamentary colleagues, particularly those who are not members of the group, and helps them gain invaluable insights. But don't for one minute think that the group's members see themselves as being involved in another talking shop. I also believe it is vital that our group acts as a critical friend to the UK food and drink manufacturing sector and I am sure that we will be raising issues that we believe companies should be doing more to address.

Yet this particular critical friend really does understand the important role this sector plays in the overall economy, contributing 14.2% of manufacturing's gross value added (GVA) to the UK alone, with a staggering annual turnover of almost £74bn.

As the storm clouds of recession continue to gather on the horizon, it is important we remember that the UK's largest manufacturing sector has always provided economic stability during turbulent times. Yes, it is important to try to create a more sustainable future for food production and consumption in this country. But that means harnessing the power of the industry to invest and innovate. Never has the time been more significant to avoid developing policy approaches or regulations that actually undermine the sector's economic vitality at this critical time.

In political terms, food has never been so exciting and I look forward to working with colleagues to bring this important industry and its issues to life in both Houses in the coming months.