Armed Forces: Food

Dr. Fox
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of (a) all food, (b) beef and (c) lamb supplied to forces based in (i) the UK, (ii) Germany, (iii) Iraq and (iv) Afghanistan is sourced from United Kingdom producers.

Mr. Ingram
Under the MOD’s food supply contract, which commenced on 1 October 2006, approximately 68 per cent. of food items (excluding fresh produce, which is affected by seasonality) supplied to UK forces based in the UK, Germany, Iraq and Afghanistan are sourced from suppliers within the UK. Approximately 55 per cent. of beef and 13 per cent. of lamb and mutton supplied to UK forces in these locations is of British origin.