HL Deb 12 January 1998 vol 584 c175WA
Baroness Lestor of Eccles

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether it is their intention to participate in the European Union surplus food scheme in 1998.

Lord Donoughue

Yes. The European Commission has allocated the United Kingdom some £20.3 million to operate the Scheme during 1998. Approximately 10 million cans of stewed steak will be made available to local authorities and to charitable and other non-profit making organisations to distribute to those on income support, family credit, jobseeker's allowance (income based only) or disability working allowance, the homeless and destitute and those living in welfare hostels. The scheme will only involve UK intervention beef which contains no offal and will be from animals killed when they were under 30 months of age and is no different to the meat currently available in the shops. We are pleased that this surplus beef is to be put to good use.