HC Deb 18 February 1991 vol 186 cc67-8W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards purchasing food for the forces from outside the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

In accordance with Government policy, the Ministry of Defence aims to secure best value for money in the purchasing of food for the armed forces. This means that having specified what is required in terms of rigorous quality standards, the Department seeks competitive tenders whenever it can.

Under EC directives the Ministry of Defence is obliged to advertise the majority of its forthcoming purchases in the Official Journal of the EC. To date there has been very little response from overseas companies, and almost all the Ministry's contracts for food for the armed forces are placed with firms in the United Kingdom. These firms in turn obtain their supplies from normal trade sources in this country and abroad. We do not seek to influence the selection by companies of their sources of supply any more than is necessary to ensure that the required quality standards are met.

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the amount and cost of(a) butter and (b) beef which has been bought by him for the forces from (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) other countries, listing the countries in each case, for 1990 and to date in 1991; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The value of butter and beef purchased by the Ministry of Defence for the services is as follows:

Butter Value
£
1990 200,000
11991 8,000
1 To the end of January.

Beef £ million
1990 13
11991 1
1 To the end of January.

Details of supplies by country of origin are not available. However, it is estimated that approximately 95 per cent. of purchases of beef in 1990 came from South America, mainly Uruguay, with the remainder from the United Kingdom, and that all butter came from the United Kingdom.