§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields on 17 January,Official Report, column 546, what estimates he has about the costs of irradiated food; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonIt is estimated that irradiation of food would increase the cost of processed food by between 5p and 15p per kilogram, dependent on the type of food to be processed. Given the competitive tendering methods the MOD applies to the procurement of food, it is unlikely that MOD would purchase irradiated food, as it would generally be more expensive than food processed by conventional means.