Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to increase the proportion of publicly-procured (a) beef, (b) lamb and (c) pork which comes from UK sources. 

James Paice MP; Minister of State (Agriculture and Food): One of the Government's priorities is to support and develop British farming and encourage sustainable food production. To achieve this it needs to be seen to lead by example and encourage sustainable food procurement by the Government and the wider public sector. In support of this the Government have made a commitment to source food, subject to no overall increase in costs, meeting British or equivalent standards of production.

This commitment will be included as part of a set of Government Buying Standards for food, covering sustainability of food and catering operations as well as nutrition, which will be mandatory for central Government Departments and will be promoted to the wider public sector. These Government Buying Standards, currently the subject of an external review ending on 24 January, will be published in March this year.

We know that some Departments are already buying a high proportion of food that meets British or equivalent standards of production and therefore it should be possible for others to do the same. DEFRA will be working to help all Departments achieve this goal through guidance and learning from best practice. Departments will be asked to report on the extent to which they meet the Government Buying Standards in June 2011.

Government, procurement has to comply with EU and UK legislation which is intended to prevent 'buy national' policies and encourage free trade and equal access to markets. Any action in contradiction to these principles would run a high risk of legal challenge and would be contrary to the Government's wider public procurement policy.