We welcome the Chancellor’s announcement to increase the National Living Wage, but it still falls short of the actual cost of living and the reality faced by many families living on low incomes who struggle to afford healthy food. We are also pleased to see that the amount of tax companies pay as part of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy will increase for the first time since the Levy was introduced in 2018. We urge the Government to invest this money into programmes that improve children’s health and increase access to healthy food like fruit and veg, such our Rose Voucher for Fruit & Veg projects.
However, we are disappointed that the first Budget from a Labour Government in 14 years has missed a vital opportunity to address food insecurity and ensure everyone can afford the healthy diet they deserve. Nearly 10 million people in the UK, including almost 3 million children, can’t afford the food they need for a healthy life, with fruit and veg consumption at its lowest in over 50 years. These are urgent issues that must be addressed if the Government is serious about achieving its manifesto promises.
The Autumn Statement could have delivered so much more, including an investment to pilot our Fruit & Veg on Prescription projects as promised in the Government’s ‘Community Eatwell’ commitment, and the investment needed to expand the eligibility criteria and increase the value of the Healthy Start Scheme – a lifeline for many families with young children.
