§ Mr. RichardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Mr. Jamieson) of 20 February 1997, Official Report, column 718, if the armed forces are supplied with German beef; and if he will make a statement. [20040]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotThis is a matter for the chief executive of the Naval Bases and Supply Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Trewby to Mr. Rod Richards, dated 13 March 1997
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the supply of German beef to the Armed Forces as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Naval Bases and Supply Agency.NAAFI are currently contracted to supply food for the Armed Forces. They have advised that the only area where German beef has been supplied is to our Forces in Germany, and that the products and quantities involved are small. Most beef products, including those supplied for our Forces in Germany, are sourced from South America on value for money grounds. Due to the ban on British beef exports a small number of low offtake beef products, which otherwise might have been sourced in the UK have been obtained from continental European sources, mainly Holland but with a small proportion from Germany.