asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they intend to reduce the meat content in public sector food procurement initiative programmes to promote healthy eating.

One of the key objectives under the public sector food procurement initiative (PSFPI) is to increase the consumption of healthy and nutritious food. The Government advise that a healthy balanced diet has plenty of fruit and vegetables (at least five portions of a variety every day); plenty of starchy foods, such as bread, rice, potatoes, and pasta, choosing wholegrain varieties whenever possible; some milk and dairy foods; some meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein; and just a small amount of foods and drinks high in fat and/or sugar.

The Food Standards Agency has recently published guidance on food served to adults in major institutions and this can be found at www.food.gov.uk /healthiereating/nutritioncommunity/pubinstguide.

More information on the PSFPI is available on Defra's website at www.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/sustain/procurement/index.htm.