Seventh Report - Food security
Select Committee
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
HC 622
28 July 2023
Recommendations
15 results
6
Deferred
Para 19
Publish the detailed Whitehall response to each National Food Strategy independent review recommendation.
Recommendation
The Government should publish the detailed response to each of the NFSIR’s recommendations that it has drawn up within Whitehall as part of its response to this Report.
Government Response Summary
The government deflects the recommendation to publish its detailed response to the National Food Strategy independent review (NFSIR) by instead stating it is considering the recommendations from 'John Shropshire's review' on workforce shortages and intends to publish a response to that review before the end of the year.
7
Deferred
Undertake a comprehensive Cabinet Office review of departmental food policy responsibilities and structures.
Recommendation
There is an incoherent approach to food policy across Government. Defra is designated as the Government department responsible for food policy, but 15 other departments and agencies are involved in different elements of development and delivery. The successes of food …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response completely avoids the recommendation for a Cabinet Office review of departmental responsibilities for food policy, instead discussing the UK's reliance on imported nitrogen fertiliser and the resilience of chemical supply chains.
8
Deferred
Develop a comprehensive suite of food security indicators with targets to influence policy.
Recommendation
The Government Food Strategy (GFS) made only one commitment to food security: to maintain “broadly the same level in future” the UK’s current rate of self- sufficiency of 75% of commodities we can produce. Food security, though, is more than …
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Government Response Summary
The government plans to publish a Land Use Framework for England this year, which will provide a long-term perspective on land uses for various aims including food security, but does not commit to developing a specific suite of food security indicators or targets.
9
Deferred
Prioritise long-term food security by ensuring sufficient labour for the food supply chain.
Recommendation
We welcome the report of the Independent Review into Labour Shortages in the Food Supply Chain (the Shropshire Review), and support its recommendations regarding both skilled and seasonal migrant labour. Troublingly, the Shropshire Review has found evidence that the UK’s …
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Government Response Summary
The government emphasized that food security is a multifaceted issue and it is preparing the next UK Food Security Report for publication by December 2024, but did not address the specific recommendations regarding labour shortages in the food supply chain or the Shropshire Review.
10
Deferred
Para 39
Ensure continued UK production of nitrogen fertiliser and ammonia with a six-month action plan.
Recommendation
Nitrogen fertiliser plays a critical role in UK food security, and the production of ammonia used in it creates large amounts of carbon dioxide gas as a by-product which is vital for the food supply chain. There is only one …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response focused on household food security, tracking foodbank use, and providing financial support to low-income households through schemes like the National Living Wage, Healthy Start, and free school meals, entirely avoiding the recommendation regarding nitrogen fertiliser and ammonia production.
12
Deferred
Para 56
Change Government's position to include household affordability and access in food security.
Recommendation
The Food Minister said that household affordability of, and access to, food does not constitute food security. We disagree. The high and sustained rate of food price inflation means many households are having to take measures to save money like …
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Government Response Summary
The government deflected by stating that the UK Mission to the UN in Geneva is in touch with the Special Procedures Branch of OHCHR regarding a visit request by the UN Special Rapporteur on Food, rather than addressing its own position on household food security.
14
Deferred
Para 63
Publish findings on sufficiency of household support to prevent regular food aid use
Recommendation
Higher food inflation and the rise in the cost of living more generally is meaning that food banks are experiencing record levels of demand this year. Earned income, not food banks, are ultimately the solution for household food insecurity. We …
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Government Response Summary
The government stated it would not introduce new taxes that could increase food costs and affirmed that food affordability and access are key elements of its poverty strategy, but it did not commit to examining the sufficiency of existing support to reduce reliance on food aid or publishing findings within six months.
15
Deferred
Para 66
Urgently review and increase Free School Meals household income eligibility threshold
Recommendation
We welcome steps by the Government to expand free school meal (FSM) eligibility. More children are receiving FSM than ever before in England, including all infant school children. However, there is evidence that extending FSM eligibility further could reap substantial …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response focused on the Food Data Transparency Partnership and the delay of volume price promotion restrictions, completely deflecting from the recommendation to study and review Free School Meal eligibility criteria.
16
Accepted
Facilitate UN Special Rapporteur's visit to assess statutory right to food in England
Recommendation
We support the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food’s request to undertake a Country Visit to the UK, and call for the Government to facilitate such a visit before the end of this year if Professor Fakhri …
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Government Response Summary
The government states the UK has a standing invitation for UN Special Procedure mandate holders and its UN Mission is in touch with OHCHR to find suitable dates for the Special Rapporteur on Food's visit.
17
Deferred
Para 75
Respond to National Food Strategy Independent Review's analysis on health and food
Recommendation
The UK is in the midst of an obesity crisis and is facing a situation of around 40% of the adult population being obese by 2035. Unchecked, this will have profound consequences for the NHS. Food that is high in …
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Government Response Summary
The government explains it has considered the NFSIR's review and is undertaking an ambitious programme of work on healthy weight, including existing regulations and industry engagement, with further detail on diet and obesity to be set out in the Major Conditions Strategy, intended for publication in early 2024, implicitly deferring a direct response.
18
Rejected
Para 78
Undertake and publish full impact assessment of a sugar and salt reformulation tax
Recommendation
The Government rejected the NFSIR’s proposals to break the junk food cycle, including the sugar and salt reformulation tax proposal. While such a tax may cause consumer prices to rise, it may lead consumers to substitute cheaper healthier Food Security …
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Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to undertake and publish an impact assessment of a sugar and salt reformulation tax, stating it is not the right time to introduce new taxes that would increase food costs amidst cost-of-living pressures.
20
Not Addressed
Para 83
Set out detailed timetable for assessing impact of HFSS volume price promotion regulations
Recommendation
It is regrettable that the introduction of the ban on volume price promotions of food high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) has been further delayed to October 2025. The Government said that these delays were necessary to allow it …
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Government Response Summary
The government reiterates its decision to delay HFSS volume price promotion restrictions until October 2025 due to cost-of-living concerns, but does not provide the requested detailed timetable for assessing the regulations' impact on consumers and businesses during this delay.
21
Rejected
Para 84
Broaden regulations to ban all HFSS food price promotions and meal deals
Recommendation
We are not convinced that the delay to banning certain volume price promotions for HFSS food will save consumers money, given the Government’s own analysis on this matter. Of less doubt is that it will make the fight against unhealthy …
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Government Response Summary
The government rejects the committee's recommendations to forecast obesity rates, broaden HFSS food promotion restrictions, ban certain meal deals, and extend coverage to all food shops, reiterating its decision to delay existing volume price promotion restrictions until October 2025 due to cost of living concerns and stating meal deals are excluded.
22
Not Addressed
Para 86
Call on supermarkets and shops to stop all HFSS food price promotions
Recommendation
We welcome the steps taken by Sainsbury’s and Tesco to voluntarily stop offering volume price promotions on HFSS food, and call on other supermarkets and smaller shops to swiftly follow their lead in the continue absence of legal restrictions to …
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Government Response Summary
The government reiterates its decision to delay the implementation of HFSS volume price promotion restrictions until October 2025 due to cost-of-living concerns, and states that meal deals are excluded, but does not address the committee's call for other supermarkets and shops to voluntarily stop or further restrict HFSS promotions.
23
Deferred
Set out details and funding for five-year consumer education on healthy food choices
Recommendation
Better informing consumers about healthy, and unhealthy, food to help them to make the right choices is without doubt an important measure, and we welcome Government steps in this regard. Individuals should take responsibility for their food consumption and make …
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Government Response Summary
The government response completely deflects from the recommendation to set out details for a consumer education programme, discussing general food supply responsibilities and then providing a response to a different recommendation (#5) from the report.
Conclusions (8) Observations and findings — click to expand
1
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 6
The UK has demonstrated a resilient food supply during some of the most challenging events in recent times, in particular the covid-19 pandemic, the continuing Russia- Ukraine war and the UK’s departure from the EU. The role of the Government and the food supply chain in achieving this resilience should …
Government Response Summary
The government states it takes food security seriously, highlighted by the Farm to Fork Summit and an upcoming FCDO event on global food security, and will consider further events. However, it does not commit to specific actions regarding household-level access to healthy and affordable food.
2
Conclusion
Rejected
Para 10
The UK Food Security Report (UKFSR) is a vital document to provide transparency about whether the UK will achieve each of the five elements of food security the Government is required to report on, and the associated risks to them. The analysis within the UKFSR should be central to steering …
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to publish an annual UK Food Security Report (UKFSR), stating that the Agriculture Act 2020 only requires it every three years, many measures are already published annually elsewhere, and the next report will be published next year.
3
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 12
While we welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to chair an annual food security summit, we are disappointed that this evolved into May’s “Farm to Fork Summit” in which, although successful, food security was not the focus. This was a missed opportunity for the Government to demonstrate its seriousness towards the …
Government Response Summary
The government references its National Food Strategy and policies from the Farm to Fork Summit as setting its priorities, and indicates it fully considered Henry Dimbleby’s review, but does not commit to the Prime Minister chairing a dedicated annual food security summit covering the five statutory aspects.
4
Conclusion
Deferred
A fully updated edition of the UK Food Security Report should be published on an annual basis, and a month in advance of the annual food summit. This should be accompanied by an action plan for at least the next 12 months on the steps the Government will take to …
Government Response Summary
The government agrees on the need for policy coherence and strong leadership, and describes existing cross-Whitehall structures and departmental responsibilities for food supply and safety, but does not address the recommendation to publish an annual UK Food Security Report with an action plan and progress report.
5
Conclusion
Deferred
The final report of the National Food Strategy independent review (NFSIR) offered not only a detailed and considered analysis of the challenges facing our food system, including food security, but also put forward achievable actions. In contrast, the Government Food Strategy (GFS) has fallen short. It is not, as the …
Government Response Summary
The government deflects the recommendation regarding the perceived shortcomings of its Food Strategy and the failure to publish a detailed response to the independent National Food Strategy review by instead discussing the UK Food Security Report, stating the next iteration will be published by December 2024 and they will consider if any changes are needed.
11
Conclusion
Deferred
We look forward to the publication of the Government’s Land Use Framework (LUF) for England, and welcome the report of the House of Lords’ Land Use Committee. The LUF should not be overly prescriptive, but it should make clear what the Government’s priorities are and how it will help the …
Government Response Summary
The government's response focused entirely on the eligibility criteria and cost of Free School Meals, stating it has no plans to change the current conditions but will keep them under review, thus deflecting from the recommendation about the Land Use Framework.
13
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 61
We applaud the work being done by charities in Liverpool and around the country to support those in need of food aid. In particular, the pantry model of food aid provided a sense of dignity to users, as well as choice, and is something we would encourage other food aid …
Government Response Summary
The government's response detailed its initiatives on healthier eating and obesity, including calorie labelling, product restrictions, and reformulation efforts, but did not address the committee's commendation of charity work or the pantry model for food aid.
19
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 79
The Government has set out three actions that could help encourage healthier eating. On mandatory public reporting against a set of health metrics, this should become a requirement within the next six months. Further research on ultra-processed foods as a contributor to over consumption of higher calorie foods should commence …
Government Response Summary
The government described its existing "Better Health" campaign, which launched in July 2020, along with existing tools and regulations like voluntary front-of-pack labelling, calorie labelling, and a pilot rewards app, as efforts to encourage healthier eating, but did not commit to mandatory public reporting on health metrics or specific research on ultra-processed foods.