Found: targets around food insecurity should be enshrined in legislation, for instance in the form of a Good Food Bill

Found: More effective cross-government working, for example via a Food Bill that could provide a governance

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the introduction of a Good Food Bill to help reduce (a) food costs and (b) increase domestic food production.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra is working across Government and the food system to consider the best way to drive the Good Food Cycle, and other Government priorities, over this Parliament. Transforming the food system is a long-term programme of work. The Government neesd to use all available tools in a balanced, evidence-led way that avoids unintended consequences for industry and the consumer. The Government has not yet made any decisions on the format of any future publication, or if there is a need for legislation.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to respond to calls from more than 100 organisations for a Good Food Bill to help improve access to healthy and affordable food.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The government is committed to raising the healthiest generation ever and breaking down barriers to opportunity.

We are extending free school meals to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit from September 2026. We are taking decisive action to drive down poverty by ensuring that over half a million disadvantaged children receive the support they need in school to be healthy, get the most out of their education, and enjoy lifelong success. This action will lift 100,000 children across England out of poverty and put £500 back in families’ pockets.

The government is committed to delivering a free breakfast club in every state-funded school with primary-aged pupils in England. Free breakfast clubs remove barriers to opportunity by offering primary school children, no matter their circumstance, a supportive start to the school day.

These meals must be compliant with the School Food Standards. To ensure they support our work to create the healthiest generation of children in history, we are revising the School Food Standards and are engaging with stakeholders.

Additionally, we are working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to add support for the outcomes of their Government Food Strategy.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will introduce a Good Food Bill by the end of this Parliament.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Good Food Cycle publication is the first part of the food strategy. It will require a long-term programme of work to transform the food system and support food strategy outcomes.

Food Bill