Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with representatives of supermarkets on increasing the number of food bank collection points.

Defra has well-established ways of working with the food industry sectors. We are liaising with retailers regularly to discuss various issues including food banks.

We welcome the efforts of industry to support the operation of food banks and front-line charities during the coronavirus pandemic, including through generous donations of food. Retailers have also implemented a number of solutions to make it easy for customers to make donations to food banks by setting up donation points in store, in addition to making direct donations to food banks.

For those in severe financial difficulties, the Government announced up to £16 million to provide food for charities and other organisations supporting those who are struggling as a result of the coronavirus. The programme will provide millions of meals over 12 weeks. As part of this, Defra has also opened up the £3.5 million Food Charities Grant Fund for front-line food aid charities, offering grants up to £100,000, to support charities to continue to provide food to vulnerable people. On 10 June the Prime Minister announced over £60 million in support to local authorities in England to help people who are struggling to afford food and other essentials during the coronavirus pandemic.