Food Affordability and Inflation 2023-10-19
2023-10-19
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Inflation has risen sharply, affecting household budgets and food prices. The MP is concerned about the recent assessment by the Government.
What recent assessment have you made of the impact of inflation on the affordability of food? This issue affects households across the UK with an ongoing consumer price index at 12.2% in September, down from 14.8% in July.
In September 2023, the consumer price index was at 12.2%, down from 14.8% in July. Industry analysis expects that food price inflation will continue to decrease over the remainder of 2023. The Government are providing an average of £3,300 per household to support them with the cost of living this year and next.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific impacts of inflation on food affordability were not detailed or addressed.
Generic Answer
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The West Lothian food bank, like others across the UK, is struggling due to increasing costs. The SNP has called for measures against excessive pricing by supermarkets.
Food banks in my constituency are doing incredible work but should not have to exist. Given the struggles of constituents and the record profiteering, will you introduce a price cap on staples like bread and milk?
If the hon. Lady compares the price of a shopping basket around Europe with the price here in the UK, she will see that the free market is doing a lot of work to suppress food inflation. We have a cheaper food basket than they have in France and Germany.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask for introducing price caps was not addressed, instead comparing prices with other countries.
Generic Answer
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The price of bread has increased by 20% since the Westminster crisis. Farmers are not benefiting from these increases, and milk prices in supermarkets are nearly double what is paid to farmers.
A loaf of wholemeal bread was £1.01 before the Westminster crisis but now costs 20% more. Despite this increase, farmers are not profiting. The price of milk is almost twice what we pay farmers for their product. Why will you not consider price caps to stop supermarkets from profiteering?
We have done an enormous amount of work in this area to help to support primary producers and farmers. We will legislate in the dairy sector to make sure those contracts are fair, but advocating for control of market prices would drive up costs and not achieve desired results.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask regarding price caps was avoided, focusing instead on other measures and potential negative impacts.
Generic Answer
Response accuracy