Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Empey has been appointed to serve on a House of Lords Select Committee which has been set up to look at the links between inequality, public health and food sustainability.
Lord Empey said:
“This is the sixth select committee to which I have been appointed to serve on in the House of Lords.
“It will address an extremely interesting and topical subject. Food, poverty, health and environment all intersect. It is well known that maintaining a poor diet inevitably leads to health problems that incur public costs and it is estimated that by 2050 £9.7 billion of NHS costs in the UK will be attributed to health issues associated with being overweight.
“The Committee will be seeking to address a number of issues and answer a number of key questions to help inform its deliberations.
“I am looking forward to exploring issues such as – how can food be made both sustainable and affordable? How can those living in poverty be helped to adopt a healthier and more environmentally sustainable diet? And what is the role of supermarkets?
“The Committee is due to report by the end of March 2020.”