§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) on 29 April 2002,Official Report, column 624W, on school fruit, what guidance 1115W there is to ensure that his Department buys British when purchasing apples for the national school fruit scheme. [59557]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 24 May 2002]: The Department contracts with various suppliers and distributors to supply fruit for the national school fruit scheme. In all of its procurements, the Department is obliged to secure value for money through competition and has to consider EC Procurement Directives; therefore, the Department is unable to insist upon only British products being purchased. We would, however, expect UK growers to be well placed to meet the challenge of supplying fruit for the scheme.