House of Commons · Westminster Hall
16 May 2023 · 4 other contributors · 3,402 words
Opened by Gordon Henderson Con Sittingbourne and Sheppey
Responding minister: Mark Spencer
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Gordon Henderson raised concerns about farmers, supermarkets and food supply chains in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
Henderson asks the Government to produce an enhanced food security report annually, conduct a value chain inquiry into market failures, cement the role of the Groceries Code Adjudicator, support the Food and Drink Sector Council's ambitions for sustainable growth, establish regular food forums with DEFRA officials, invest in agricultural technology and innovation centres, make changes to the planning system to permit development for growing and processing fruit and vegetables, and ensure that food businesses contribute to renewable energy generation.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Gordon Henderson is concerned about the unsustainable pressures on British farmers due to unprecedented events like energy price spikes and labour shortages. He notes that farm input costs have increased by 42% since 2019, with wholesale energy prices being one and a half times higher than normal. Additionally, he highlights the waste of £22 million worth of fruit and vegetables in the first half of 2022 due to workforce gaps, particularly in horticulture.
According to the latest NFU survey, 40% of beef farmers and 36% of lamb farmers expect to reduce production due to rising input costs. The speaker shares concern about the impact on farming.
Farmers in North Shropshire, particularly dairy farmers, are facing high input prices and pressure from supermarkets to lower milk prices. Helen Morgan asks the Minister whether he welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority's investigation into price gouging by supermarkets.
Direct payments fell from 95% of total income from farming in 2016 to just 62% in 2021, affecting regions like Kent and the south-west with a dramatic reduction in income.
My farmers in Aberconwy are ready to step forward and support the food supply chain, but supermarkets have a duty to not put undue cost pressures on them. Upland farmers in Aberconwy are being told their land is not suitable for farming and should instead be used for trees, which upsets them. Robin Millar questions whether meat is an important part of a balanced diet and if raising livestock is among the best practices for upland farming.
Government Response
Mark SpencerIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Mark. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey (Gordon Henderson) for securing this important debate. Food contributes £30 billion to our economy and employs over 4 million people. The Government want to support farmers and rural communities through new farming schemes, reinvesting £2.4 billion per year into the sector. We are supporting farmers by paying direct payments in two instalments, with the next one due in July, and providing assistance through energy bills discount scheme and visas for seasonal workers. The Government have launched investigations into dairy and pork sectors to ensure fair contracts and will look at horticulture and egg sectors next. The Prime Minister has published a food strategy focusing on secure food supply, good-quality jobs, and growing the economy through the agrifood sector. We will keep the Groceries Code Adjudicator as a separate authority. New powers introduced through the Agriculture Act 2020 support the sector, and precision breeding is being championed with the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023. Future horticulture support will replace EU fruit and vegetable producer organisation scheme in 2026 with an expanded offer including controlled environment horticulture.