Government minister to discuss energy crisis in food and drink sector

Spencer, who is MP for Sherwood in Nottinghamshire, will attend the meeting of the food and drink supply chain all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on 18 January.

Fellow MP Sharon Hodgson, who is interim chair of the group, said: “Spiralling energy prices are having a major impact on food and drink businesses, intensifying the cost of doing business and driving food price inflation to worrying levels.

“This is why we have invited the food minister Mark Spencer to give evidence to the APPG so he can outline the government’s plan to support this vital sector after the initial scheme ends in March, and to set out how we can build a stronger, more resilient supply chain in the future.”

The APPG has said previously that it is worried that when the current measures of energy support end in March it could result in redundancies, business closures and a “sharp decline in investment”.

The APPG was established last year and panellists at its first inquiry session in October included James Lowman, chief executive at the Association of Convenience Stores, and James Bielby, chief executive of Federation of Wholesale Distributors.