The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee is
embarking on a new inquiry, Food Security, in response to
pressures facing food producers and rising food prices. The
inquiry will also consider the government’s food strategy,
launched in a policy paper in June 2022, and the UK’s level of
food self-sufficiency.
The inquiry will look at the key factors currently affecting the
availability of food – such as the continuing impacts of the
Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine - and the outlook for
food inflation.
The Institute of Grocery Distribution, a trade body, predicts
that food inflation will hit 15% in the coming months and the
Bank of England says the supply disruption factors could last
into 2023.
The Committee is also asking how the pressures on supply and food
inflation are affecting consumers’ access to healthy and
nutritious food as well as their impact on businesses.
It will examine whether the Government’s proposals in its recent
food strategy paper will affect resilience in the food supply
chain, improve access to good quality food, and support farmers,
fishers and food producers.
The Committee will also consider if the UK’s current level of
food self-sufficiency remains appropriate, and how the
Government’s forthcoming land use strategy should strike the
right balance between food production and other goals.
Chair's comment
The Chair of the EFRA Committee, Sir , said:
“There are few things more important than the food we eat – where
it comes from, its quality and its price.
“Our food producers are facing extremely challenging times – with
rising energy and fertiliser prices as well as the war in
Ukraine. These pressures are now also being felt by consumers.
“The government is not responsible for all the problems facing
food supply chains but it is essential it does all it can to help
manage these pressures as it implements its new food
strategy.
“About three quarters of the types of food we can produce in this
country are supplied by our own farmers, producers and growers.
We want to start a debate about whether that’s the right level
and what that means for how we use our land and the priority we
put on food production”.
Terms of referenceSubit written
evidence
Everyone is welcome to contribute evidence to the inquiry and can
submit their views in writing. For general information on how to
submit written information to us, and how we then use that
information, please see guidance linked above.
The closing date for submission of written evidence is Friday 30
September 2022.
The Terms of Reference for the inquiry are:
- What are the key factors affecting the resilience of food
supply chains and causing disruption and rising food prices –
including input costs, labour shortages and global events? What
are the consequences for UK businesses and consumers?
- What is the outlook for UK food price inflation in the short
and medium term? What policy interventions should the Government
consider to manage these pressures?
- How are the rising cost of living and increasing food prices
affecting access to healthy and nutritious food?
- How will the proposals in the Government’s food strategy
policy paper affect:
- the resilience of food supply chains?;
- the agri-food and seafood sectors?; and
- access to healthy, nutritious food?
- Is the current level and target of food self-sufficiency in
England still appropriate?
- How could the Government’s proposed land use strategy for
England improve food security? What balance should be struck
between land use for food production and other goals – such as
environmental benefit?
The Committee will also hold hearings with experts and
stakeholders at oral evidence sessions, which will be announced
nearer the time. These evidence sessions are normally held in
public and can be watched on parliamentlive.tv.
