Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to encourage companies based in the United Kingdom to source produce from local suppliers.

Decisions about food sourcing must be taken by individual businesses. However, last year the Government published the ‘Plan for Public Procurement of Food and Catering Services’, through which the public sector demonstrates leadership in the better procurement of local and sustainable food. The Plan also helps suppliers of British grown and processed produce to take advantage of opportunities to supply the public sector. Several companies are adopting this approach across their wider operations.

In addition, we are putting in place an ambitious 25 year plan to promote and grow our world-leading food and farming industry, encouraging enterprise and boosting productivity at each stage of the food chain.