To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has held with other Ministers on the sourcing of publicly-procured food; and what proportion of such food was of British origin in 2005. (78163)

[holding answer 16 June 2006]: DEFRA Ministers have had recent discussions with other Ministers on the sourcing of publicly-procured food and announcements will be made in the very near future.

The Department is not aware of any central source of information on the proportion of publicly-procured food that was of British origin in 2005. The information could be determined only at disproportionate cost.