Oral Answers to Questions

Wendy Morton Excerpts

Thursday 18th June 2015 Commons Chamber

[Wendy Morton (Aldridge-Brownhills) (Con)]

11. What discussions she has had with her ministerial colleagues on promoting the purchase of more local and seasonal food in the public sector.

[The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Elizabeth Truss)]

We launched the Bonfield plan in July last year to help the public sector to buy more local, seasonal food. It means that £400 million of business is available to our farmers and food producers. We are making good progress on that, and only this week I discussed with the Justice Secretary how it could be implemented in his Department.

[Wendy Morton]

The Secretary of State mentioned the efforts she is making in central Government, but what progress does she think is being made at a local level to support our first-class farmers and food producers, not least those in the west midlands?

[Elizabeth Truss]

I thank my hon. Friend for her question. We have fantastic produce in the west midlands, from Burton’s Marmite to Worcestershire pears. I am pleased to see that Birmingham City Council is working to make sure all its schools meet the Bonfield standards, and I would like other cities, towns and villages across Britain to do so too.