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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has plans to provide support to the food and drink supply chain in its servicing of the public sector in the context of that sector facing pressures due to rising energy, food and labour costs.

The procurement of food for the public sector is the responsibility of lead departments for that sector (Department for Education – schools, Department of Health and Social Care – hospitals and care homes, Ministry of Justice – prisons, Ministry of Defence – armed forces).

Defra is working closely with those lead departments to ensure that they are aware of any issues to the food and drink supply chain. Lead departments are in regular contact with major suppliers to review their public procurement contracts and ensure they can continue the fulfilment of their services, as stated in their contracts and including food standards they are expected to uphold.

The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain, as demonstrated throughout the Covid-19 response, and Cabinet Office has been running a series of workshops giving relevant businesses advise on handling inflationary pressures.