Select Committee · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

COVID-19 and food supply: follow up

Status: Closed Opened: 14 Jan 2021 Closed: 25 Nov 2021 10 recommendations 2 conclusions 1 report

The Committee published its report on covid-19 and food supply in July 2020. Since then, the Government has reintroduced measures to suppress the prevalence of the virus. The Committee is now conducting a follow-up inquiry to update its July 2020 report.

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Seventh Report - Covid-19 and the issues of security in foo… HC 1156 7 Apr 2021 12 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items
8 Recommendation Seventh Report - Covid-19 and the issue… Rejected

Ensuring everyone, and especially the vulnerable, have access to enough food is a fundamental duty...

Ensuring everyone, and especially the vulnerable, have access to enough food is a fundamental duty of society and Government. We recognise that this is a goal the Government shares, even if there are differences over how best to achieve it. Although there have been failings, Ministers have mobilised their departments … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government highlights how departments collaborated through a temporary Ministerial Taskforce during the pandemic but does not commit to creating a permanent Minister for Food Security. It also references existing international obligations and the lack of a requirement to incorporate the right to food into …
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
10 Recommendation Seventh Report - Covid-19 and the issue… Rejected

Food redistribution helps to provide nutritious food to those who might not otherwise have access...

Food redistribution helps to provide nutritious food to those who might not otherwise have access to it, as well as minimising waste. We reiterate our recommendation that Covid-19 and the issues of security in food supply 25 the Government should provide ongoing funding to FareShare and other charities, so they … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government highlights past funding for food redistribution, including grants totalling over £11 million since 2018. However, it explicitly states there are no current plans or allocated funds for further ongoing grant opportunities, effectively rejecting the recommendation for continued funding.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Oral evidence sessions

2 sessions
Date Witnesses
23 Feb 2021 Victoria Prentis · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Will Quince · Department for Work and Pensions View ↗
9 Feb 2021 Anna Taylor · The Food Foundation, Cllr James Jamieson · Local Government Association (LGA), Emma Revie · Trussell Trust, Fazilet Hadi · Disability Rights UK, Ian Wright · Food and Drink Federation, James Bielby · Federation of Wholesale Distributors, Kate Nicholls · UKHospitality View ↗

Who gave evidence

9 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Anna Taylor · Executive Director The Food Foundation 1
Cllr James Jamieson · Chairman Local Government Association (LGA) 1
Emma Revie · Chief Executive Trussell Trust 1
Fazilet Hadi · Policy Manager Disability Rights UK 1
Ian Wright · Chief Executive Officer Food and Drink Federation 1
James Bielby · Chief Executive Federation of Wholesale Distributors 1
Kate Nicholls · Chief Executive UKHospitality 1
Victoria Prentis · Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs 1
Will Quince · Minister for Welfare Delivery Department for Work and Pensions 1