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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to minimise the proportion of household income that is spent on food after the UK leaves the EU.

The Government does not set retail food prices or comment on the day-to-day commercial decisions made by companies. We work closely with industry to promote transparency for consumers, and internationally to promote open, global markets. The UK sources food from a diverse range of countries, in addition to a strong domestic production base. This will not change when we leave the EU.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) Living Costs and Food Survey includes questions on household spend on food, including that of the lowest 20% income households. The most recent data has shown that the amount that the lowest 20% income households spend on food has fallen to 14.3% in 2016/17 compared with 16% in 2015 (Source Family Spending). These statistics show that it is important to look at all the factors which have an impact on household income such as transport, housing and energy costs.

This Government, through the Department for Work and Pensions is committed to providing a strong safety net of support through the welfare system for disadvantaged families and their children. This includes hardship payments, short term benefit advances, budgeting advances and Social Fund budgeting loans. There is a commitment to spend over £95 billion on working age welfare benefits supporting people out of work or on a low income.