PUBLIC PROCUREMENT OF FOOD

Early day motion 544, tabled 19 December 2006 by Peter Ainsworth (Conservative). Signed by 42 members.

That this House believes that the £1.8 billion public sector food budget could make a significant contribution to reducing food miles and boosting the rural economy; is astonished that the Government has no idea how much publicly procured food is of British origin; urges the Government to do everything it can within EU rules to source food for schools, hospitals and other public institutions locally; believes that it is wrong for taxpayers' money to be used to buy food which has been produced using methods that would be illegal in the UK; and calls on the Government to ensure that all publicly procured food meets the Little Red Tractor standard.

Signatures by party: Conservative 21, Labour 11, Liberal Democrat 5, Plaid Cymru 2, Independent 1, Scottish National Party 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.