§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on food by his Department and by each of the agencies for which it is responsible in(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; what proportion of that food by value was produced in the United Kingdom; what guidance he has issued to encourage the procurement of home-produced food; and if he will make a statement. [129369]
§ Fiona MactaggartThe Home Office (with the exception of the Prison Service) is not a direct purchaser of food as this is provided through Facilities Management Contracts. Food purchased directly relates to official hospitality and where applicable we pay a subsidy to the Facility Management contractors for the provision of food in staff restaurants. By subsidising the costs of meals in the staff restaurants we are able to reduce the daily costs of staff working in central London which aids staff retention and provides them with a variety of nutritional snacks and hot meals.
418WDue to the disproportionate costs I am unable to provide you with all the details requested. I have though highlighted the subsidies that apply to the central London Headquarters and Croydon estates.
Central London HQ Croydon Estate Expenditure on canteen subsidy 2001–02 (£) 218,000 99,716 (January-December 2001) Percentage of food products produced in the UK Not known Not known Expenditure on canteen subsidy 2002–03 (£) 179,000 79,098 (January-December 2002) Percentage of food products produced in the UK 62 Not known The Prison Service recorded expenditure on food was £40,155,638 in 2001–02 and £42,357,666 in 2002–03. No data is held on the value of food produced in the United Kingdom for 2001–02. In 2002–03, £31,104,289 (73 per cent.) was produced in the United Kingdom.
The Home Office and Prison Service are both working with Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra) on the Sustainable Food Procurement Initiative which is part of the Government's strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food. This is intended, to encourage the public sector to procure food in a manner that promotes Sustainable development and does not discriminate against local and UK suppliers. As part of this the Home Office and Prison Service have developed separate action plans that will be used to measure progress towards meeting the initiatives objectives.