Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Recommendation 23
23
Paragraph: 115
The measures put in place by Government to control the COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly had a...
Conclusion
The measures put in place by Government to control the COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly had a significant and disruptive effect on food systems in the UK. The food supply chain was, with time, Government support and the efforts of key workers, able to keep providing food to those who could afford and were physically able to go to shops and supermarkets. In addition, significant efforts were made by COVID-19 and food supply 51 Government to ensure that Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) people who had to shield at home received food, albeit not always adequate in quantity or nutrition. Therefore, the food supply chain for retail consumers and CEV people was shown to be resilient. However, it remains to be seen how the food system will reorient to a new normal, a key test of resilience, particularly where foodservice and hospitality are concerned. The longer-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our food supply resilience remain to be seen.
Paragraph Reference:
115
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
In the COVID-19 response, the Government acted quickly to provide emergency food to those in the shielding population who had no other means of obtaining supplies, including no wider support network of family, friends or volunteers. Two strategies to help the shielding group were prioritised: coordinating with supermarkets to ensure they had priority access to online groceries; and creating a food parcel scheme which would supply shielding people with essential groceries and household supplies. We will continue to engage with industry, including through Defra’s long-established food industry working group for resilience and security issues, the Food Chain Emergency Liaison Group (FCELG). We will also continue to engage with the industry through a range of bilateral and multilateral forums. The Government is hugely grateful for the commitment of the industry and its key workers, who worked constructively to find innovative solutions to challenges throughout the COVID-19 response. We are committed to continuing our collaborative approach, supporting the food sector through recovery and re-start stages, and maintaining our food supply resilience.