Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Food Security

Tuesday 19 May 2020 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK food supply chain demonstrated resilience during the coronavirus response, with manufacturers increasing output by 50% during initial weeks of panic buying.
  • A 16 million fund was announced to support food charities and ensure food distribution through FareShare.
  • A new food strategy, focusing on obesity and coronavirus, will be developed by Henry Dimbleby with an initial report in autumn and final report early next year.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Anna McMorrin Lab Cardiff North
Economy Benefits & Welfare Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

In light of recent panic buying and rising unemployment, there is concern about food security risks due to the coronavirus crisis.

Question

What assessment has been made of the risk to food security from the covid-19 outbreak? Despite a 23% rise in Trussell Trust food parcels between April and September last year doubling by this April, alongside a World Bank warning of a worldwide food price spike, what steps are being taken to alleviate rising food poverty?

Answer from George Eustice

The coronavirus response has demonstrated the resilience of the UK food supply chain, with manufacturers increasing output by 50% during initial weeks of panic buying. The government recently announced a £16 million fund to support food charities and ensure distribution through FareShare.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Steps needed to match scale of the crisis not fully addressed

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Q2 Anna McMorrin Lab Cardiff North
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

Unemployment has increased by nearly 70% last month, and food bank demand is surging up to 80% from pre-virus levels. The Trussell Trust reported a doubling in the number of food parcels provided.

Question

Given the alarming rise in unemployment and food poverty, what measures are being taken to address this critical issue?

Answer from George Eustice

A new £16 million fund was announced last week to support food charities. The Government's urgently needed food strategy, focusing on obesity and coronavirus, will be developed by Henry Dimbleby with initial report in autumn and final report early next year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No timeline provided for emergency plan before recession bites

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Q3 Luke Pollard Labour (Co-op) Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
Employment Benefits & Welfare Environment
Context

Unemployment has soared by nearly 70% last month, leading to a surge in food bank demand up to 80% from pre-virus levels. Labour's proposals for an emergency coronavirus food plan were rejected.

Question

With unemployment soaring and food bank demand surging, what measures match the scale of the crisis? Will the Government's urgently needed food strategy be published before the recession bites?

Answer from George Eustice

A £16 million fund was announced to support food charities. The food strategy, developed by Henry Dimbleby, will involve an initial report in autumn and a final report early next year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No commitment to publishing before economic downturn

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