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Select Committee · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

COVID-19 and food supply

Status: Closed Opened: 19 Mar 2020 Closed: 24 Nov 2021 17 recommendations 9 conclusions 1 report

The Committee today is enquiring into food supply during the Coronavirus pandemic, including access to healthy food during periods of self-isolation, and how disruptions in the food supply chain should be managed. The Committee will initially identify current problems and strategies for mitigating potential risks. Read the key points on the impact of the coronavirus … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First Report - COVID-19 and food supply HC 263 30 Jul 2020 26 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

1 item
14 Recommendation First Report - COVID-19 and food supply Rejected

The Government should amend the Agriculture Bill so that food security assessments should take place...

The Government should amend the Agriculture Bill so that food security assessments should take place yearly, rather than every five years.

Government response AI summary
The government explicitly rejected the recommendation for yearly food security assessments, stating that the current five-year cycle in the Agriculture Bill is sufficient and aligns with other policy cycles, and Defra conducts ongoing monitoring.
Read full response →
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
23 Jun 2020 Andrew Kenny · Just Eat Takeaway.com, Anna Taylor · The Food Foundation, Kate Nicholls · UKHospitality, Professor Tim Lang · City University London's Centre for Food Policy View ↗
5 Jun 2020 Andrew Opie · British Retail Consortium, James Lowman · Association of Convenience Stores View ↗
19 May 2020 Ian Wright CBE · Food and Drink Federation, James Bielby · Federation of Wholesale Distributors, Mr Nick Allen · British Meat Processors Association View ↗
15 May 2020 Caroline Abrahams · Age UK, Emma Revie · Trussell Trust, Fazilet Hadi · Disability Rights UK, Lindsay Boswell · FareShare View ↗
5 May 2020 Jack Ward · British Growers Association, Minette Batters · National Farmers Union (NFU), Tom Hind · North York Moors National Park Authority, National Parks England View ↗

Who gave evidence

16 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Andrew Kenny · UK Managing Director Just Eat Takeaway.com 1
Andrew Opie · Director of Food and Sustainability British Retail Consortium 1
Anna Taylor · Executive Director The Food Foundation 1
Caroline Abrahams · Charity Director Age UK 1
Emma Revie · Chief Executive Trussell Trust 1
Fazilet Hadi · Policy Manager Disability Rights UK 1
Ian Wright CBE · Chief Executive Food and Drink Federation 1
Jack Ward · Chief Executive Officer British Growers Association 1
James Bielby · Chief Executive Federation of Wholesale Distributors 1
James Lowman · Chief Executive Association of Convenience Stores 1
Kate Nicholls · Chief Executive UKHospitality 1
Lindsay Boswell · Chief Executive Officer FareShare 1
Minette Batters · President National Farmers Union (NFU) 1
Mr Nick Allen · Chief Executive Officer British Meat Processors Association 1
Professor Tim Lang · Emeritus Professor of Food Policy City University London's Centre for Food Policy 1
Tom Hind · Chief Executive Officer North York Moors National Park Authority, National Parks England 1

Correspondence

4 letters
DateDirectionTitle
16 Jun 2020 To cttee Letter from the CEO of Co-op food to the Chair regarding free school meal vouch…
16 Jun 2020 To cttee Letter from the Chair to Vicky Ford MP regarding free school meal vouchers, 9 J…
20 May 2020 To cttee Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State regarding COVID-19 and food sup…
9 Apr 2020 — Correspondence from Heather Hancock, Chair, Food Standards Agency

Meetings & visits

1 item
DateTypeDetail
30 Jun 2020 Formal meeting Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee · Virtual meeting