Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Seventh Report - Covid-19 and the issues of security in food supply
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
HC 1156
Published 7 April 2021
Government response
Second Special Report: COVID-19 and the issues of security in food supply: Government Response to the Committee’s Seventh Report · published 18 Jun 2021
Recommendations & Conclusions
1
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 12
We support the principle that schools and local authorities should have multiple options, such as...
Conclusion
We support the principle that schools and local authorities should have multiple options, such as food parcels and vouchers, for providing free school meals to their pupils. They are best placed to know what works best for their communities. It …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that with schools reopened, children can access free meals. For self-isolating children, schools are encouraged to provide food parcels or have the option to purchase local food vouchers, aligning with the principle of multiple options and local flexibility.
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
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2
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Para 13
We heard evidence that many wholesalers who were providing pupils with food parcels, provided them...
Recommendation
We heard evidence that many wholesalers who were providing pupils with food parcels, provided them in line with Government guidance. However, a minority of parcels were clearly unacceptable. It is therefore unfortunate that the failings of some suppliers, in terms …
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Government Response Summary
The government details current free school meal provisions for self-isolating children and existing grant schemes, but does not specifically address how it will learn from past failings in food parcel quality or ensure future offerings consistently meet standards and deliver value for money.
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
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3
Recommendation
Accepted
Para 14
We know that during lockdown food insecurity is particularly likely amongst those eligible for free...
Recommendation
We know that during lockdown food insecurity is particularly likely amongst those eligible for free school meals. Therefore, in the event of another lockdown, Government should ensure that families of children who would normally receive free school meals continue to …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that schools are now reopened and children can access free meals. For self-isolating children, schools are encouraged to provide food parcels or local vouchers, and the response highlights existing schemes like the Holiday Activities and Food programme and the Covid-19 Winter Grant Scheme.
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
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4
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 22
Although the intention of the food parcels scheme during the first lockdown was to provide...
Conclusion
Although the intention of the food parcels scheme during the first lockdown was to provide food to the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable, it also had the effect of supporting wholesalers. However, it is right that in designing its support for the …
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Government Response Summary
The government affirms its continued "recipient-first approach" for supporting the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable, citing priority access to supermarket delivery slots and regulations to ensure recipient needs are prioritized over retailer interests.
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
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5
Recommendation
Accepted
During the 2021 lockdown, the Government has relied more heavily on supermarkets to provide food...
Recommendation
During the 2021 lockdown, the Government has relied more heavily on supermarkets to provide food to vulnerable groups. We support the principle that where possible people should be supported to shop for themselves. However, if the Government is directing custom …
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Government Response Summary
The government confirms ongoing conversations with supermarkets to convey concerns about delivery charges and accessibility for vulnerable groups. It also highlights local authorities' efforts, supported by government, to assist digitally excluded residents with food orders and emphasizes retailers' duties under the Equality Act.
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
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6
Recommendation
Accepted
Para 24
It is imperative that food retailers ensure that their stores are accessible to disabled people.
Recommendation
It is imperative that food retailers ensure that their stores are accessible to disabled people. We recognise the challenges faced in adapting stores to social distancing in the early months of the pandemic, but there is no excuse for ongoing …
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Government Response Summary
The government reaffirms that all food retailers must comply with the law and make reasonable adjustments for disabled customers, and states Defra is actively promoting EHRC guidance and working with the EHRC and British Retail Consortium to address accessibility concerns.
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
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7
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Para 32
Without proper data, we cannot take action on the scale required and targeted at those...
Recommendation
Without proper data, we cannot take action on the scale required and targeted at those in greatest need to tackle the causes and consequences of food insecurity. Data from charities indicate that many more people are food insecure as a …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees to include up-to-date data on food insecurity, including household make-up, in the 2021 Agriculture Act report. However, it rejects producing annual reports, stating that annual food security statistics will be published instead due to the slow-moving nature of many trends.
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
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8
Recommendation
Rejected
Para 33
Ensuring everyone, and especially the vulnerable, have access to enough food is a fundamental duty...
Recommendation
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. …
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Government Response 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 domestic law.
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
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9
Recommendation
Deferred
Para 34
We agree that enshrining principles in law is not a “silver bullet”, however, giving the...
Recommendation
We agree that enshrining principles in law is not a “silver bullet”, however, giving the “right to food” a legislative footing would drive action on food insecurity across Whitehall and Government. We therefore recommend that the Government should consult on …
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Government Response Summary
The government highlights its commitment to addressing food insecurity and mentions upcoming considerations from the National Food Strategy's final report and subsequent White Paper. However, it does not specifically commit to consulting on the implementation of a "right to food" as part of that process.
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
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10
Recommendation
Rejected
Food redistribution helps to provide nutritious food to those who might not otherwise have access...
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response 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.
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
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11
Recommendation
Accepted
Para 50
We support the Chancellor’s announcement in the Budget that the hospitality sector will continue to...
Recommendation
We support the Chancellor’s announcement in the Budget that the hospitality sector will continue to receive at least the same level of financial support. However, we remain concerned that those who supply them have not received the same level of …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the impact on suppliers and commits to ongoing engagement and monitoring through existing forums. It highlights the new £1.5 billion Business Rates relief fund, for which wholesalers and other suppliers are eligible, providing additional financial support as recommended.
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
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12
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
We welcome the Minister’s assurances that there is no intention to extend the relaxation of...
Recommendation
We welcome the Minister’s assurances that there is no intention to extend the relaxation of competition law for retailers. We repeat our recommendation that the Government and Competition and Markets Authority should review whether the relaxation of competition law has …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that the CMA has been monitoring competition issues since March 2020 and outlines existing efforts to promote British food and build demand for local produce. For digital support, it accepts the recommendation by detailing the 'Help to Grow: Digital' scheme, which provides an online platform and vouchers for SMEs.
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
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