In this pre Spring Budget 2024 submission, we focus on considerations for the Treasury in five main areas: cost of living, education, health, environment and rural affairs and business.
To summarise, it includes recommendations around urgently extending the Household Support Fund to 24-25 and extending and increasing the Healthy Start programme. It also recommends supporting the nutrition of children from low incomes families with increased funding for school meals and the School Fruit and Veg Scheme.
We would like to see fiscal measures to incentivise healthier food and drink production with an extension, uplift and review of the Sugary Drink Industry Levy and for those levies to support child health. We would also like to see increased investment in public health and a multi annual budget to support sustainable farm businesses.
We are also calling for increased funding in the Agricultural Transition Plan to further invest in skills, training, advice, capital grants, farmer-led research and development; create a £300-500 million Local Food Enterprise Fund; and support for small bakeries.
Published Wednesday 24 January 2024
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
