To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the duration is of his Department's contract with Purple Foodservice Solutions for armed forces food supply; and when that contract will be reviewed for the purpose of inviting competitive bids. (320754)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) food supply contract with Purple Foodservice Solutions (PFS) commenced in October 2006; it is a five-year contract with two two-year extension options. The MOD has taken up the first of these options and the contract is currently due to expire in October 2013. The MOD is considering the merits of extending the current contract with PFS against the benefits of competition.