Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Food Prices

Thursday 18 May 2023 · 5 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 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister stated that UK food price inflation was 19.2%, matching the EU average.
  • Minister refused to apologize for removing tariffs upon leaving the EU.
  • Government provided support to families through the cost of living, amounting to 94 billion.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Patricia Gibson SNP
Economy Brexit Business & Trade
Context

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.

Question

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?

Answer from Nigel Huddleston

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address the specific ask about food bank usage or doubling over a decade

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Tommy Sheppard SNP
Economy Brexit
Context

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.

Question

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?

Answer from Nigel Huddleston

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address the specific ask about food bank usage or doubling over a decade

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Patricia Gibson SNP
Economy Brexit Benefits & Welfare
Context

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.

Question

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?

Answer from Nigel Huddleston

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address the specific ask about food bank usage or doubling over a decade

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Richard Thomson
Economy Energy Business & Trade
Context

Food price inflation has risen sharply in the UK. Governments across Europe are taking action to tackle soaring food prices.

Question

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?

Answer from Nigel Huddleston

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address the specific ask regarding tariffs and supermarket prices

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q5 Richard Thomson
Economy Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The UK Government voted against a motion calling for supermarkets to pass on falling food prices to consumers.

Question

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?

Answer from Nigel Huddleston

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address the specific ask regarding voting against the motion

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email