Farming Minister George Eustice has claimed that Brexit will not have an effect on food security in Britain, even if the UK crashes out of negotiations with the EU without a deal in place.

The minister’s comments were made in response to a parliamentary question by Lib Dem MP Tom Brake, who asked what assessment the government has made of the food security implications of the UK leaving the EU, if Britain continues to trade with EU partners, either as part of the single market or customs union, or relying on World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules (in this scenario, Britain would have to apply tariffs of 22 per cent on any food imported from the EU).

Though he wasn’t forthcoming about any assessments Defra has made of the potential outcomes from Brexit negotiations, Eustice replied confidently that “None of the potential scenarios regarding our trading relationship with the EU is likely to have a significant impact on food security.”

The farming minister campaigned for Brexit ahead of last year’s referendum. In the run-up to the EU referendum last June, Eustice promised that, in an independent Britain, farm funding would be at least equal to spending under the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), but went back on these claims less than a month after the vote to leave was returned.

Earlier in July, three of the UK’s leading experts on food and farming policy produced a report for Sussex University’s Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), in which they warn that Britain is completely unprepared for the most complex ever change to its food system. The experts also warn that the public haven’t been made aware of the impacts that even a ‘soft’ Brexit will have for the environment or for food safety, prices and availability. They criticise the government for failing to produce an overarching vision for the country’s food system.

Nevertheless, in his Parliamentary answer, Mr Eustice said, “Food supply is highly resilient with capacity throughout the supply chain, and industry can respond quickly to ensure ongoing supply. The UK has a strong balance between domestic production and diverse sources of supply, which has been stable for a number of years.

“Food security depends on factors including increasing global production sustainably, reducing waste and ensuring open markets to facilitate trade. None of the potential scenarios regarding our trading relationship with the EU is likely to have a significant impact on food security.”

However, the three professors behind the SPRU report, whose conclusions were drawn from over 200 sources, including government data and interviews with key members of the UK’s food supply chain, believe there is “An urgent need for a clear integrated plan for UK food.”

Professor Tim Lang, of the Centre for Food Policy at City University London, said on the report’s release, “UK food security and sustainability are now at stake. A food system which has an estimated three to five days of stocks cannot just walk away from the EU, which provides us with 31 per cent of our food. Anyone who thinks that this will be simple is ill-informed.”

In addition to warning about the widespread impacts Brexit will have across a number of sectors, the experts also pointed to the nutritional imbalance that exists in trade between Britain and Europe, with Britain importing a large amount of healthier, fresh produce from mainland Europe, whilst predominantly exporting less healthy luxury foods like alcohol, confectionary and meat.

In July, Prof Lang said, “At least the UK entered World War Two with emergency plans. No-one has warned the public that a Food Brexit carries real risks of disruption to sources, prices and quality. There is solid evidence about vulnerabilities ranging from diet-related ill-health to ecosystems stress. Food is the biggest slice of EU-related regulations and laws, yet so far the Government has only sketchily flagged a new Agriculture Act and Fisheries Act in the Queen’s Speech.

“British consumers spend £201 billion on food a year, with the entire food chain contributing about £110 billion gross value added (GVA). Of this, agriculture accounts for less than £9 billion GVA, and fisheries £0.7 billion GVA. The Government has provided next to no details on agriculture and fisheries, and there has been total silence on the rest of the food chain where most employment, value adding and consumer choice are made. With the Brexit deadline in 20 months, this is a serious policy failure on an unprecedented scale. Anyone would think they want a drop into the World Trade Organisation abyss.”