Seventh Report - Covid-19 and the issues of security in food supply
Select Committee
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
HC 1156
7 April 2021
No response data available yet.
Recommendations
5 results
5
During the 2021 lockdown, the Government has relied more heavily on supermarkets to provide food...
Recommendation
During the 2021 lockdown, the Government has relied more heavily on supermarkets to provide food to vulnerable groups. We support the principle that where possible people should be supported to shop for themselves. However, if the Government is directing custom …
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8
Para 33
Ensuring everyone, and especially the vulnerable, have access to enough food is a fundamental duty...
Recommendation
Ensuring everyone, and especially the vulnerable, have access to enough food is a fundamental duty of society and Government. We recognise that this is a goal the Government shares, even if there are differences over how best to achieve it. …
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9
Para 34
We agree that enshrining principles in law is not a “silver bullet”, however, giving the...
Recommendation
We agree that enshrining principles in law is not a “silver bullet”, however, giving the “right to food” a legislative footing would drive action on food insecurity across Whitehall and Government. We therefore recommend that the Government should consult on …
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10
Food redistribution helps to provide nutritious food to those who might not otherwise have access...
Recommendation
Food redistribution helps to provide nutritious food to those who might not otherwise have access to it, as well as minimising waste. We reiterate our recommendation that Covid-19 and the issues of security in food supply 25 the Government should …
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12
We welcome the Minister’s assurances that there is no intention to extend the relaxation of...
Recommendation
We welcome the Minister’s assurances that there is no intention to extend the relaxation of competition law for retailers. We repeat our recommendation that the Government and Competition and Markets Authority should review whether the relaxation of competition law has …
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Conclusions (7) Observations and findings — click to expand
1
Conclusion
Para 12
We support the principle that schools and local authorities should have multiple options, such as food parcels and vouchers, for providing free school meals to their pupils. They are best placed to know what works best for their communities. It is important that families have the flexibility to meet their …
2
Conclusion
Para 13
We heard evidence that many wholesalers who were providing pupils with food parcels, provided them in line with Government guidance. However, a minority of parcels were clearly unacceptable. It is therefore unfortunate that the failings of some suppliers, in terms of quality and value for money, led to a fall …
3
Conclusion
Para 14
We know that during lockdown food insecurity is particularly likely amongst those eligible for free school meals. Therefore, in the event of another lockdown, Government should ensure that families of children who would normally receive free school meals continue to be able to feed their children.
4
Conclusion
Para 22
Although the intention of the food parcels scheme during the first lockdown was to provide food to the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable, it also had the effect of supporting wholesalers. However, it is right that in designing its support for the vulnerable, the Government has focussed on the needs of recipients …
6
Conclusion
Para 24
It is imperative that food retailers ensure that their stores are accessible to disabled people. We recognise the challenges faced in adapting stores to social distancing in the early months of the pandemic, but there is no excuse for ongoing barriers. All food retailers must ensure that reasonable adjustments are …
7
Conclusion
Para 32
Without proper data, we cannot take action on the scale required and targeted at those in greatest need to tackle the causes and consequences of food insecurity. Data from charities indicate that many more people are food insecure as a result of the pandemic. The food security report under the …
11
Conclusion
Para 50
We support the Chancellor’s announcement in the Budget that the hospitality sector will continue to receive at least the same level of financial support. However, we remain concerned that those who supply them have not received the same level of financial support. Many of these suppliers are small businesses, who …