Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 7:24 pm on 10 November 2009.
David Drew
Labour, Stroud
7:24,
10 November 2009
I entirely agree. I have tried to keep local Gloucestershire produce going, and I think it is only right and fair that we should consider carefully how such endeavours might fit in with this scheme. I am merely asking for thought to be given to how we can not only expand the free food scheme into schools, but supply the free fruit. This has to come from DEFRA as well as the Department of Health. Although it is not the Minister's responsibility, it is the responsibility of the Government. As I have said, such an approach would do an enormous amount of good in encouraging the horticultural industry. As my colleagues know from their work on the various incarnations of the Select Committee on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, that industry has been under an awful lot of pressure. This would be the greatest fillip. Whether the money comes from the EU or directly from our Government does not matter. What does matter is that we build on this success and ensure that we can take it forward.
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