Food: Prices

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs written question – answered at on 25 April 2017.

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Photo of Andrew Stephenson Andrew Stephenson Conservative, Pendle

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the gluten-free food prices compared to overall food prices in each of the last five years.

Photo of Andrew Stephenson Andrew Stephenson Conservative, Pendle

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health on steps to reduce the cost of gluten-free foods for people no longer able to access such foods by prescription.

Photo of Andrew Stephenson Andrew Stephenson Conservative, Pendle

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will hold discussions with supermarkets on the cost of gluten-free foods.

Photo of George Eustice George Eustice The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The Department of Health (DH) is currently conducting a consultation on the availability of gluten-free foods on NHS prescription, and this is expected to close on 22 June 2017.

It is not the role of Government to set food prices or comment on decisions taken by individual companies. We monitor food prices closely using CPI data, but do not monitor the prices of individual product lines. We work to promote transparency and open global markets internationally, as well as a competitive domestic market to help producers and retailers offer the best prices to consumers. Defra ministers and officials regularly meet representatives of the food retailers.

Officials from Defra and Department of Health (DH) meet regularly to discuss a range of issues relating to health and nutrition policy.

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