Written Question
Monday 3rd April 2023
Asked by:
John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question
to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment. Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with supermarkets on profit levels and food pricing in response to increased food price inflation.
Answered by Mark Spencer
Defra has regular discussions with food retailers about a range of issues, including the impact of food price inflation. We are closely monitoring the situation and taking action to maintain an efficient food supply chain by mitigating against any potential burdens or friction which could otherwise drive up consumer food prices. In addition, Defra continues to work with supermarkets and producers to explore the range of measures they can take to ensure the availability of affordable food. However, it is not for HM Government to set retail food prices nor to comment on day-to-day commercial decisions by companies. We do not actively monitor the profits of food retailers.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 13 Jun 2022
Government Food Strategy
"Recent surveys have demonstrated food insecurity among the workforce within food production itself. In other words, many of the workers producing the food cannot even afford to pay for it themselves. Recent surveys have also demonstrated increased dependency on food banks among food workers. Although there is a reference in …..."John McDonnell - View Speech
View all John McDonnell (Lab - Hayes and Harlington) contributions to the debate on: Government Food Strategy
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 19 May 2022
Food Price Inflation
"In crises on this scale, Governments of all complexions, Conservative and Labour, have looked at ensuring people have the resources coming in so that they can afford basic foods. At the moment that means inflation-proofing benefits, pensions and wages, but they have also looked at price controls. The Government are …..."John McDonnell - View Speech
View all John McDonnell (Lab - Hayes and Harlington) contributions to the debate on: Food Price Inflation
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 02 Nov 2021
COP26 and Air Pollution
"At the moment, the Prime Minister is still at COP. There will be a major discussion around air pollution and what can be done globally, but we need to ensure we are acting locally as well, so I want to raise the issue of air pollution in London overall, particularly …..."John McDonnell - View Speech
View all John McDonnell (Lab - Hayes and Harlington) contributions to the debate on: COP26 and Air Pollution
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 02 Nov 2021
COP26 and Air Pollution
"I made that point in the debate on the Budget, and I do not want to be repetitious. The issue for me is that any tax relief or tax reduction that either promotes further emissions or supports those polluting our environment is clearly contrary to Government policy, as far as …..."John McDonnell - View Speech
View all John McDonnell (Lab - Hayes and Harlington) contributions to the debate on: COP26 and Air Pollution
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 04 Mar 2021
Oral Answers to Questions
" If the Electoral Commission will investigate the potential merits of strengthening regulations on third-party campaigners. ..."John McDonnell - View Speech
View all John McDonnell (Lab - Hayes and Harlington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 04 Mar 2021
Oral Answers to Questions
"May I ask my hon. Friend to convey to the Electoral Commission, on behalf of a number of us in the House, the need for an urgent, more serious and in-depth inquiry into third party campaigning, particularly in respect of its role in the last general election? Will he refer …..."John McDonnell - View Speech
View all John McDonnell (Lab - Hayes and Harlington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 26 Jan 2021
Environment Bill
"I want to speak briefly in support of amendments 2 and 25 and new clause 6, all of which seek to tackle the health crisis caused by the current levels of air pollution. For my constituents living in a permanent air pollution blizzard, surrounded by Heathrow airport, the M4, the …..."John McDonnell - View Speech
View all John McDonnell (Lab - Hayes and Harlington) contributions to the debate on: Environment Bill
Written Question
Tuesday 28th July 2020
Asked by:
John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question
to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with senior representatives at Kew Gardens on funding for that institution as a result of the financial effect of the covid-19 outbreak; and what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the outbreak on the (a) finances and (b) functionality of that institution.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
Defra has regular meetings with Kew Gardens about the impacts of the Covid-19 outbreak. There are significant impacts on Kew’s operations and finances, mainly as a result of having to close the Kew and Wakehurst Place sites to the public for a period during lockdown, and a staggered return to full operations is anticipated through 2020/21.
Kew has reopened to the public under a carefully planned approach and is now able to generate visitor income as a result, although at a significantly lower level than would normally be anticipated. The operational facilities are being kept under review with a view to maximising visitor access within social distancing guidelines. Kew has taken financial mitigation measures to partly offset the loss of income, including reducing costs, postponing investment plans and use of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Under optimistic scenario planning of steady growth in visitor numbers and associated income and no second lockdown or related restrictions, their in-year operating deficit would result in a 25% reduction in total income for 2020/21, which will be funded by Kew drawing down its unrestricted reserves.
We continue to work with Kew to monitor the situation and any future challenges.
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 09 Jun 2015
Air Pollution (London)
"I will briefly raise three issues because I believe that all levels of Government have failed my constituents and London overall.
Let us make it absolutely clear that there is no way that central Government can abide by the European directives on air pollution if a third runway at Heathrow …..."John McDonnell - View Speech
View all John McDonnell (Lab - Hayes and Harlington) contributions to the debate on: Air Pollution (London)