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Food

Volume 479: debated on Monday 21 July 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how much was spent by his Department on (a) food and (b) food of British origin in each of the last five years; (214883)

(2) from which five countries of origin the greatest amount of food was procured by his Department in the last year for which figures are available; and what the (a) cost and (b) quantity procured was in each case.

The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost, but from information held centrally, it is estimated that the proportion of food supplied to DEFRA from UK sources since 2005 is as follows:

Percentage

Value (£)

2005

65

629,244

2006

74

643,208

2007

85

606,606

20081

85

250,130

1 Six months.

I refer the hon. Member to the report published on the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative website at:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/sustain/procurement/pdf/gov-food-usage.pdf

DEFRA again proposes to publish data by the end of 2008 on the proportion of domestically produced food purchased by Departments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to develop a comprehensive food policy; and if he will include in the policy measures to reduce (a) food waste and (b) food miles. (219035)

[holding answer 15 July 2008]: As set out in the Cabinet Office’s recent report on food “Food Matters”, DEFRA, working with the Department of Health and the Food Standards Agency will launch a process of engagement with stakeholders across the food chain to develop a vision for a sustainable food system. The vision will define the Government’s priorities and purpose across the food system and will consider issues such as food waste and sourcing alongside issues of nutrition and the environmental impacts of food consumption and production.

The Cabinet Office’s report also sets out how DEFRA will work with the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and the food industry to reduce food waste both in the food supply chain and in the home.