Public sector procurement of food – call for evidence

​The House of Commons' Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Select Committee is seeking views and recommendations on public procurement of food - how is it sourced, and does it meet the right standards regarding health, the environment and supporting local communities.

The parliamentary body is looking for submissions from organisations and individuals into how the UK can do better with the £2bn spent every year providing meals in schools, hospitals, prisons, and many other public bodies.

The deadline for written submissions is August 27th.

In particular, the committee wants to address:

* How effective have current food procurement rules been at achieving environmental outcomes, encouraging healthy eating and supporting local suppliers, including SMEs?

* What impact have Defra’s 2014 Plan for Public Procurement and the Government Buying Standard (GBS) had, and how could they be improved?

* How much flexibility will the UK have to change food procurement rules outside the EU?

* What should the Government’s priorities for future food procurement be? (a) How should the Government support these priorities in the negotiation of new trade deals?

* To what extent should the public sector be encouraged to ‘buy British’, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of such an approach?

For more information about submitting evidence visit: https://committees.parliament.uk/call-for-evidence/176/public-sector-procurement-of-food/

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