The Chair of the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee has welcomed the Government's £16 million Winter Support grant to FareShare, following the Committee’s call for further funding last week. It will provide meals for those in need over the winter period. However, Neil Parish has called again for a longer-term commitment in the form of the appointment of a Minister for Food Security, as recommended in the EFRA Committee's report, COVID-19 and Food Supply.
Chair of the EFRA Select Committee, Neil Parish MP, said:
"I welcome Defra's commitment to support those in food poverty throughout what will be a tough winter, while also reducing food waste at the same time, using the FareShare network. Whilst I welcome this Winter Support Grant, healthy food needs to be accessible to everyone year-round. Again, I urge the Government to appoint a Minister for Food Security to work across Government and tackle the root causes of food insecurity.”
Member of the EFRA Select Committee, Dr Neil Hudson MP for Penrith and The Border, added:
“I am really pleased that the Government has listened to our cross-party EFRA Select Committee’s call for them to extend the FairShare Scheme through the winter. This welcome increase in funding will provide additional support to provide fresh and healthy food to some of the most vulnerable folk in society.”
On 24 November, the Chair of the Committee wrote to Secretary of State George Eustice, calling for additional resources to extend the Food Waste Fund.