Questions & Answers
Q1
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Food price inflation in the UK has risen significantly, with recent assessments indicating that it is affecting consumers. The Trussell Trust reports a surge in food bank usage.
What recent assessment she has made of the impact of her trade policies on food prices? Recent figures from the Trussell Trust show that food bank use across the UK soared to a record 3 million in 2022-23. Does the Minister accept that food bank use, which has more than doubled in a decade, has a direct correlation with Brexit causing food prices to soar?
The figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that food price inflation in the UK was 19.2%—and the EU average is 19.2%. As for apologising, I will not apologise for the fact that when we left the EU, we got rid of hundreds of useless tariffs that were doing nothing other than pushing up prices for British consumers. We liberalised tariffs on environmental goods and goods that we generally do not produce in the UK, thus massively reducing the total number of tariffs faced by British consumers.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address the specific ask about food bank usage or doubling over a decade
Response accuracy
Q2
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UK food price inflation is significantly higher than that in France, Germany and Italy. William Bain of the British Chambers of Commerce warned that new regulations could drive prices even higher.
UK food price inflation is already significantly higher than that in France, Germany and Italy. This week William Bain, the head of trade at the British Chambers of Commerce, said there was a strong prospect that new Brexit regulations coming into force later this year would drive prices even higher. Is it not time that this Government apologised for their ideological obsession with Brexit, which is forcing ordinary-working class families into poverty?
The hon. Gentleman is being somewhat selective. The figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that food price inflation in the UK was 19.2%—and the EU average is 19.2%. As for apologising, I will not apologise for the fact that when we left the EU, we got rid of hundreds of useless tariffs that were doing nothing other than pushing up prices for British consumers.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address the specific ask about food bank usage or doubling over a decade
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Recent figures from the Trussell Trust show that food bank use across the UK soared to a record 3 million in 2022-23. Food bank usage has more than doubled over a decade.
Recent figures from the Trussell Trust show that food bank use across the UK by people in need of a three-day emergency food supply soared to a record 3 million in 2022-23. Does the Minister accept that food bank use, which has more than doubled in a decade, has a direct correlation with Brexit causing food prices to soar?
All of us, on both sides of the House, are concerned about the struggles faced by our constituents. The Government have supported families through the challenges of the cost of living to the tune of £94 billion—£3,300 per household. Since we left the European Union, 47% of tariff lines in our tariff schedule have fallen to zero. The figure is 27% in the EU.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address the specific ask about food bank usage or doubling over a decade
Response accuracy
Q4
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Food price inflation has risen sharply in the UK. Governments across Europe are taking action to tackle soaring food prices.
If we take the Minister at his word that tariffs are coming down, that does not seem to be making much difference to the prices that people are paying at the supermarkets. Do Ministers accept that action to protect consumers from corporate greed is necessary and urgent?
Food inflation is very similar in the UK and Europe, because we are all facing very similar challenges. That is precisely why we provided support to consumers to the tune of about half their energy costs this winter. About a third of business energy prices have been covered by Government support.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address the specific ask regarding tariffs and supermarket prices
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Q5
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The UK Government voted against a motion calling for supermarkets to pass on falling food prices to consumers.
I accept that we might be facing similar problems to mainland Europe, but we are certainly not getting the same degree of action from the Government to tackle prices in supermarkets. Does the Minister accept that by voting against my party's motion on Tuesday calling on them to put pressure on supermarkets to pass on falling food prices to consumers, the UK Government sent an extremely clear signal to families in Scotland that they are not on their side?
Again, I and my colleagues continually engage with industry about how it can help support consumers. That is precisely why we had the summit this week, which I am sure the hon. Member is well aware of.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address the specific ask regarding voting against the motion
Response accuracy