Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Food Affordability and Inflation

Thursday 19 October 2023 · 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The consumer price index was 12.2% in September 2023, down from 14.8% in July.
  • Industry analysis projects a continued decrease in food price inflation for the rest of 2023.
  • The Government provides an average of 3,300 per household to support the cost of living.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Hannah Bardell SNP
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

Inflation has risen sharply, affecting household budgets and food prices. The MP is concerned about the recent assessment by the Government.

Question

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.

Answer from Mark Spencer

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific impacts of inflation on food affordability were not detailed or addressed.

How: Generic Answer

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Q2 Hannah Bardell SNP
Economy Benefits & Welfare Environment
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Mark Spencer

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.

Not addressed: The specific ask for introducing price caps was not addressed, instead comparing prices with other countries.

How: Generic Answer

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Q3 Steven Bonnar
Economy Agriculture & Rural Affairs
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Mark Spencer

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask regarding price caps was avoided, focusing instead on other measures and potential negative impacts.

How: Generic Answer

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