Supermarkets: Voluntary Price Caps

Baroness Gill Excerpts

Wednesday 20th May 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Livermore (Lab)]

The end of the noble Baroness’s question is preposterous. This is not about price caps, as some speculation has suggested. As I said yesterday, we would never advocate for that, and I repeat that it is not for the Government to tell supermarkets how to do their jobs.

[Baroness Gill (Lab)]

My Lords, food poverty and food security need a joint focus. Examples of best practice can be found in our neighbourhoods, in Italy’s approach to local food systems, where there is a 50% reduction in business rates for greengrocers selling produce from within 50 miles of their town, or in the Liège food-land belt initiative, which sponsors the growth of farmers’ co-ops to supply 50% of their own food needs. Have the Government explored these alternatives to addressing the cost of living crisis?

[Lord Livermore (Lab)]

I am not in a position to stand here and suggest a 50% business rates reduction for any business, but my noble friend is absolutely right on the importance of taking action across the board to help reduce the cost of living. As I say, we have frozen rail fares, frozen prescription fees and taken £150 off energy bills—these are the driving factors behind today’s bigger than expected fall in inflation.