Oral Answers to Questions — Defence – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 21 February 2000.
Nigel Evans
Vice-Chair, Conservative Party
12:00,
21 February 2000
How much of the food purchased for the armed forces is sourced from abroad. [109418]
Dr Lewis Moonie
Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Chair, Finance and Services Committee, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Veterans), Chair, Finance and Services Committee
The supply of food for our armed forces was contracted out by the previous Administration. The agreement does not specify the source from which our contractors should obtain products, but expects them to seek the best market price, consistent with meeting our quality standard, while giving full consideration to British products. Our main food supply contract is with 3663: it is sourcing a range of more than 1,300 different products for the armed forces, including fresh, chilled and frozen commodities. The company advises that about 26 per cent. of those are currently imported. Included in that figure are products which are not made or grown in this country.
Nigel Evans
Vice-Chair, Conservative Party
Will the Minister explain why so much of our food is sourced from abroad? I accept that, in certain cases when the armed forces are abroad for a period, it is more appropriate to source the food locally. However, we have moved on: the Minister's party is in government. Will he explain why, when the French will not eat our beef, we are forcing our armed forces to take £1 million-worth of French chickens? Does he agree that, when the French will not eat our beef, it is hard for us to swallow the fact that we are forcing our armed forces to eat their chickens?
Dr Lewis Moonie
Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Chair, Finance and Services Committee, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Veterans), Chair, Finance and Services Committee
As the hon. Gentleman can tell from looking at me, it is plain that I have little difficulty in swallowing anything.
As for French chickens, I regret to say that, thanks to the provisions of the contract—which I am sure the hon. Gentleman enthusiastically supported when he was in government—we have no choice but to accept supply from the cheapest source. However, I can offer him one ray of light: on the matter of lamb, I have today agreed to meet Welsh hill farmers to discuss whether there is any possibility that they can satisfy some of our requirements for that product.
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