Food Security

Baroness Batters Excerpts

Monday 29th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Katz (Lab)]

The noble Baroness will be aware that UK annual food price inflation in the current month, June 2026, was 2.2%, which is lower than overall inflation for the first time since January last year. Historically, of course, our food has been more affordable than the EU average. But she is right to stress the importance of affordability; that is why the Government are providing targeted support to help households manage food costs in a number of different ways. First, we have extended free school meals to 500,000 extra pupils, which will save up to £500 per child per year. The Chancellor of the Exchequer also recently announced targeted tariff cuts on over 100 everyday food items as part of the Great British Summer Savings scheme, which, it is estimated, will save more than £150 million per year.

[Baroness Batters (CB)]

I start by thanking the Minister for publishing the farming road map and for responding to my review on farm profitability. It was a stark fact, leading the review, that over 50% of all farms in England remain unprofitable and below the level of median household earnings. Given that, in the last Parliament, there were legislated targets put in place for the environment, is it not time that we had annual reporting on our food security and targets set to make sure we are not lowering our self-sufficiency?

[Lord Katz (Lab)]

I begin by thanking the noble Baroness, Lady Batters, for all her hard work on the profitability review. The Government have responded to a number of her recommendations, including ensuring that the new round of funding for the SFI opens up with a focus on active farmers, rather than just landowners. As she will know, through the Farming and Food Partnership Board, we are focusing on sector growth plans, with an initial focus on the sectors that need boosts, help and support the most, including horticulture and poultry, as well as focusing on a workforce strategy. However, I heard what she said about the targets. There is a lot of detail in the new farming road map. The Government are of course always open to listening to these ideas.