Evidence session
Fairness in the food supply chain
Tuesday 21 May at 2.30pm, Committee room 6, Palace of Westminster
Watch live on parliamentlive.tv
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee holds the final evidence session of its inquiry into fairness in the food supply chain on Tuesday 21 May at 2.30pm, questioning Government Ministers, the Rt Hon. Sir Mark Spencer MP and Kevin Hollinrake MP.
The session will be an opportunity for the Committee to reflect on evidence received throughout the course of the inquiry, which has examined the market power of food producers, manufacturers, and supermarkets, and investigated whether structural relationships could be improved.
At the Farm to Fork Summit earlier this week, the Prime Minister said that the UK needs to reduce its reliance on overseas fruit and vegetables and back British producers. This hearing will be a chance for MPs to question ministers about the resilience of the UK’s food supply chain and the Government’s support for producers against high input costs.
Dr Neil Hudson MP, Member of the EFRA Select Committee said:
“Food security is part of our national security. As was illustrated in last week’s Farm to Fork Summit that I attended on the invitation of the Prime Minister, food security is very much at the heart of Government thinking.
“It is so important that our brilliant farmers and producers are fairly rewarded for keeping our nation food secure and supplying food for our tables.
“Our EFRA Committee Inquiry into Fairness in the Food Supply Chain continues this week where we will quiz Government Ministers in DEFRA and the Business Department as to how Government can support these aims.”
Members are also likely to pose questions to ministers about other recent Government announcements, including the confirmation that the Seasonal Worker visa route would be extended for five years until 2029, and that a Supply Chain Adjudicator will be appointed.
The Committee is also likely to ask about the quality and transparency of information provided to consumers about where their food comes from, asking about the practice of shrinkflation and the rise in supermarkets’ use of so called ‘fake farms’ to market their products.
Witnesses
From 14.30:
· Rt Hon. Sir Mark Spencer MP, Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
· Kevin Hollinrake MP, Minister of State, Department for Business and Trade
· Sarah Evered, Deputy Director, Innovation, Productivity and Science, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
