To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what percentage of the poultry supplied to the House was born and raised on British farms in each of the last three years. (125184)

The Refreshment Department does not keep statistics of the country of origin of the food it purchases. However, from information provided by its suppliers, it is estimated that in each of the last two years (January to December 2005 and 2006) over 97 per cent. of the fresh poultry supplied to the Department was of British origin and 100 per cent. was of EU origin. No information is available for earlier years.

Under the terms of the EU procurement directives, the House of Commons is unable to discriminate in favour of or against the goods, services or produce of any member state.