The UK’s largest union has said it has discovered the government is suppressing information on expected changes in food prices as a result of the UK leaving the European Union.
Unite said Government refusal to publish the report "increases concerns" that when the UK leaves the EU there will be a sharp increase in prices and possible food shortages.
The union said this will have "massive implications" for both consumers and workers in the food industry.
Unite, the largest union representing food, drink and agriculture workers, made a freedom of information request to the Defra.
It asked: “What assessment or estimate has been made of the increase in food prices in the run up to the UK leaving the European Union and the first five years after the UK’s departure.”
Defra replied: “The information requested is being withheld as it falls under the exemption in section 35 of the FOIA, which relates to the formulation and development in government policy.”
Public interest
Unite has appealed against the decision to withhold the information arguing that the public interest of publishing the report outweighs the government’s desire to suppress the report while the UK “is formulating its negotiating position with the EU”.
Unite said it will appeal further to the Information Commissioners Office if the internal review is rejected.
Any increase in prices is likely to have a major effect on the UK’s food industry which currently employs over three million workers, the union explained.
It also said that an increase in food costs is likely to have an effect on the inflation rate which will further impact on living standards and the overall health of the economy.
'Pulling the wool'
The National Farmers Union (NFU) has previously warned that as the UK only produces 60 per cent of its own food and if imports became unavailable the UK would run out of food by 6 August each year.
This week, the UK food industry warned that if the UK leaves the EU without a trade deal, it would have to introduce a new inspection regime which would result in food imports being delayed and would result in shortages.
Unite national officer for food, drink and agriculture, Julia Long, said: “The government is pulling the wool over the eyes of the public yet again. What is it hiding?
“If the government knows that Brexit is going to affect food prices, then it needs to tell the general public and not pretend that there isn’t a problem.
“The type of Brexit that the UK chooses will clearly have major implications on the nations shopping basket and we need to know what those factors will be.”
