Food Banks

(asked on 30th June 2020) - View Source

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken to encourage more (a) food producers and (b) supermarkets to increase levels of donations to (i) food banks and (ii) other food poverty alleviation schemes.


Answered by
Victoria Prentis Portrait
Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
This question was answered on 8th July 2020

Supermarkets are donating money and food to local communities, charities and food banks to respond to COVID-19. For example, Tesco is providing a £30 million package of support that includes a £25 million food donations programme. Sainsbury's has donated £3 million to FareShare, Asda donated £5 million to food banks and community charities to help people through COVID-19 and Morrisons has promised £10 million of dedicated stock to be set aside for local food banks. Other supermarkets have also made donations.

For those who find themselves 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 coronavirus. The programme is providing millions of meals over 12 weeks and is being delivered through charities including FareShare and the Waste and Resources Action Programme. This builds on the generous donations already provided by the industry, including supermarkets.

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 because of COVID-19.

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