Thérèse Coffey rules out help for farmers and consumers facing higher costs

The environment secretary tells MPs it is not the role of government to provide free food' or to intervene in markets

The government has ruled out making any intervention in the market to help farmers or consumers with high food prices, the environment secretary, Therese Coffey, has said.

Food prices have soared in the past year, in part owing to higher input prices such as energy, fertiliser and animal feed. Last month, food price inflation hit a fresh high of 12.4%, with poorer households hit hardest.