Recommendations & Conclusions
23 items
1
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Food security
Acknowledged
The UK has demonstrated a resilient food supply during some of the most challenging events in recent times, in particular the covid-19 pandemic, the continuing Russia- Ukraine war and the UK’s departure from the EU. The role of the Government and the food supply chain in achieving this resilience should …
Government response. The government states it takes food security seriously, highlighted by the Farm to Fork Summit and an upcoming FCDO event on global food security, and will consider further events. However, it does not commit to specific actions regarding household-level access …
2
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Food security
Rejected
The UK Food Security Report (UKFSR) is a vital document to provide transparency about whether the UK will achieve each of the five elements of food security the Government is required to report on, and the associated risks to them. The analysis within the UKFSR should be central to steering …
Government response. The government rejects the recommendation to publish an annual UK Food Security Report (UKFSR), stating that the Agriculture Act 2020 only requires it every three years, many measures are already published annually elsewhere, and the next report will be published …
3
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Food security
Deferred
While we welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to chair an annual food security summit, we are disappointed that this evolved into May’s “Farm to Fork Summit” in which, although successful, food security was not the focus. This was a missed opportunity for the Government to demonstrate its seriousness towards the …
Government response. The government references its National Food Strategy and policies from the Farm to Fork Summit as setting its priorities, and indicates it fully considered Henry Dimbleby’s review, but does not commit to the Prime Minister chairing a dedicated annual food …
4
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Food security
Deferred
A fully updated edition of the UK Food Security Report should be published on an annual basis, and a month in advance of the annual food summit. This should be accompanied by an action plan for at least the next 12 months on the steps the Government will take to …
Government response. The government agrees on the need for policy coherence and strong leadership, and describes existing cross-Whitehall structures and departmental responsibilities for food supply and safety, but does not address the recommendation to publish an annual UK Food Security Report with …
5
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Food security
Deferred
The final report of the National Food Strategy independent review (NFSIR) offered not only a detailed and considered analysis of the challenges facing our food system, including food security, but also put forward achievable actions. In contrast, the Government Food Strategy (GFS) has fallen short. It is not, as the …
Government response. The government deflects the recommendation regarding the perceived shortcomings of its Food Strategy and the failure to publish a detailed response to the independent National Food Strategy review by instead discussing the UK Food Security Report, stating the next iteration …
6
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Food security
Deferred
The Government should publish the detailed response to each of the NFSIR’s recommendations that it has drawn up within Whitehall as part of its response to this Report.
Government response. The government deflects the recommendation to publish its detailed response to the National Food Strategy independent review (NFSIR) by instead stating it is considering the recommendations from 'John Shropshire's review' on workforce shortages and intends to publish a response to …
7
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Food security
Deferred
There is an incoherent approach to food policy across Government. Defra is designated as the Government department responsible for food policy, but 15 other departments and agencies are involved in different elements of development and delivery. The successes of food policy coordination across Whitehall forged during the covid-19 pandemic have …
Government response. The government's response completely avoids the recommendation for a Cabinet Office review of departmental responsibilities for food policy, instead discussing the UK's reliance on imported nitrogen fertiliser and the resilience of chemical supply chains.
8
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Food security
Deferred
The Government Food Strategy (GFS) made only one commitment to food security: to maintain “broadly the same level in future” the UK’s current rate of self- sufficiency of 75% of commodities we can produce. Food security, though, is more than just self-sufficiency: the UK is reliant on food imports, mostly …
Government response. The government plans to publish a Land Use Framework for England this year, which will provide a long-term perspective on land uses for various aims including food security, but does not commit to developing a specific suite of food security …
9
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Food security
Deferred
We welcome the report of the Independent Review into Labour Shortages in the Food Supply Chain (the Shropshire Review), and support its recommendations regarding both skilled and seasonal migrant labour. Troublingly, the Shropshire Review has found evidence that the UK’s immigration policy is creating labour shortages that have “seriously impacted …
Government response. The government emphasized that food security is a multifaceted issue and it is preparing the next UK Food Security Report for publication by December 2024, but did not address the specific recommendations regarding labour shortages in the food supply chain …
10
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Food security
Deferred
Nitrogen fertiliser plays a critical role in UK food security, and the production of ammonia used in it creates large amounts of carbon dioxide gas as a by-product which is vital for the food supply chain. There is only one plant remaining in the UK, which is currently using imported …
Government response. The government's response focused on household food security, tracking foodbank use, and providing financial support to low-income households through schemes like the National Living Wage, Healthy Start, and free school meals, entirely avoiding the recommendation regarding nitrogen fertiliser and ammonia …
11
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Food security
Deferred
We look forward to the publication of the Government’s Land Use Framework (LUF) for England, and welcome the report of the House of Lords’ Land Use Committee. The LUF should not be overly prescriptive, but it should make clear what the Government’s priorities are and how it will help the …
Government response. The government's response focused entirely on the eligibility criteria and cost of Free School Meals, stating it has no plans to change the current conditions but will keep them under review, thus deflecting from the recommendation about the Land Use …
12
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Food security
Deferred
The Food Minister said that household affordability of, and access to, food does not constitute food security. We disagree. The high and sustained rate of food price inflation means many households are having to take measures to save money like skipping meals. This is happening across all across all socio-economic …
Government response. The government deflected by stating that the UK Mission to the UN in Geneva is in touch with the Special Procedures Branch of OHCHR regarding a visit request by the UN Special Rapporteur on Food, rather than addressing its own …
13
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Food security
Deferred
We applaud the work being done by charities in Liverpool and around the country to support those in need of food aid. In particular, the pantry model of food aid provided a sense of dignity to users, as well as choice, and is something we would encourage other food aid …
Government response. The government's response detailed its initiatives on healthier eating and obesity, including calorie labelling, product restrictions, and reformulation efforts, but did not address the committee's commendation of charity work or the pantry model for food aid.
14
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Food security
Deferred
Higher food inflation and the rise in the cost of living more generally is meaning that food banks are experiencing record levels of demand this year. Earned income, not food banks, are ultimately the solution for household food insecurity. We welcome the substantial support packages, including the index-linked rise in …
Government response. The government stated it would not introduce new taxes that could increase food costs and affirmed that food affordability and access are key elements of its poverty strategy, but it did not commit to examining the sufficiency of existing support …
15
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Food security
Deferred
We welcome steps by the Government to expand free school meal (FSM) eligibility. More children are receiving FSM than ever before in England, including all infant school children. However, there is evidence that extending FSM eligibility further could reap substantial benefits that outweigh the costs. The Government should, as a …
Government response. The government's response focused on the Food Data Transparency Partnership and the delay of volume price promotion restrictions, completely deflecting from the recommendation to study and review Free School Meal eligibility criteria.
16
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Food security
Accepted
We support the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food’s request to undertake a Country Visit to the UK, and call for the Government to facilitate such a visit before the end of this year if Professor Fakhri is available or, if he is not, as soon as …
Government response. The government states the UK has a standing invitation for UN Special Procedure mandate holders and its UN Mission is in touch with OHCHR to find suitable dates for the Special Rapporteur on Food's visit.
17
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Food security
Deferred
The UK is in the midst of an obesity crisis and is facing a situation of around 40% of the adult population being obese by 2035. Unchecked, this will have profound consequences for the NHS. Food that is high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) is often considerably cheaper per …
Government response. The government explains it has considered the NFSIR's review and is undertaking an ambitious programme of work on healthy weight, including existing regulations and industry engagement, with further detail on diet and obesity to be set out in the Major …
18
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Food security
Rejected
The Government rejected the NFSIR’s proposals to break the junk food cycle, including the sugar and salt reformulation tax proposal. While such a tax may cause consumer prices to rise, it may lead consumers to substitute cheaper healthier Food Security 49 foods into their shopping basket. The Government should undertake …
Government response. The government rejects the recommendation to undertake and publish an impact assessment of a sugar and salt reformulation tax, stating it is not the right time to introduce new taxes that would increase food costs amidst cost-of-living pressures.
19
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Food security
Accepted
The Government has set out three actions that could help encourage healthier eating. On mandatory public reporting against a set of health metrics, this should become a requirement within the next six months. Further research on ultra-processed foods as a contributor to over consumption of higher calorie foods should commence …
Government response. The government described its existing "Better Health" campaign, which launched in July 2020, along with existing tools and regulations like voluntary front-of-pack labelling, calorie labelling, and a pilot rewards app, as efforts to encourage healthier eating, but did not commit …
20
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Food security
Not Addressed
It is regrettable that the introduction of the ban on volume price promotions of food high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) has been further delayed to October 2025. The Government said that these delays were necessary to allow it to consider the impact on consumers and businesses in the …
Government response. The government reiterates its decision to delay HFSS volume price promotion restrictions until October 2025 due to cost-of-living concerns, but does not provide the requested detailed timetable for assessing the regulations' impact on consumers and businesses during this delay.
21
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Food security
Rejected
We are not convinced that the delay to banning certain volume price promotions for HFSS food will save consumers money, given the Government’s own analysis on this matter. Of less doubt is that it will make the fight against unhealthy eating and obesity even harder. The Government Response should forecast …
Government response. The government rejects the committee's recommendations to forecast obesity rates, broaden HFSS food promotion restrictions, ban certain meal deals, and extend coverage to all food shops, reiterating its decision to delay existing volume price promotion restrictions until October 2025 due …
22
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Food security
Not Addressed
We welcome the steps taken by Sainsbury’s and Tesco to voluntarily stop offering volume price promotions on HFSS food, and call on other supermarkets and smaller shops to swiftly follow their lead in the continue absence of legal restrictions to help tackle the widespread problem of unhealthy eating. We challenge …
Government response. The government reiterates its decision to delay the implementation of HFSS volume price promotion restrictions until October 2025 due to cost-of-living concerns, and states that meal deals are excluded, but does not address the committee's call for other supermarkets and …
23
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Food security
Deferred
Better informing consumers about healthy, and unhealthy, food to help them to make the right choices is without doubt an important measure, and we welcome Government steps in this regard. Individuals should take responsibility for their food consumption and make healthier choices where this is possible. However, this alone is …
Government response. The government response completely deflects from the recommendation to set out details for a consumer education programme, discussing general food supply responsibilities and then providing a response to a different recommendation (#5) from the report.