Public Bodies British Produce 2025-06-19
2025-06-19
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Farmers in Rachel Hopkins' constituency emphasize the importance of producing high-quality food and contributing to UK food security. The government aims for half of all public sector food purchases to be locally produced or certified to higher environmental standards.
Both beef and crop farmers in my constituency tell me how important it is to produce high-quality food and contribute to UK food security. Can the Minister outline what conversations he has had with public bodies to encourage them to prioritise purchasing local British produce, and to maximise the social value of UK food production?
We are in constant dialogue with public bodies to achieve exactly that objective. For instance, last week’s announcement on the extension of free school meals to everyone on universal credit is a key plank of our food strategy and will benefit British producers.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific details on conversations with public bodies or initiatives beyond mentioning the free school meal extension.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
GB-based horticultural companies and other businesses face difficulties in supplying British produce to Northern Ireland due to cumbersome bureaucracy and paperwork.
Many GB-based horticultural companies, as well as other companies, want to supply British produce into Northern Ireland but have difficulty with the bureaucracy and paperwork. Will the Minister operate in concert with his colleagues in Cabinet and Government to eliminate the bureaucratic problems preventing those companies from supplying UK citizens in Northern Ireland?
We have negotiated and are undertaking further negotiations with the European Union to improve systems that can help people achieve their goals of supplying British produce into Northern Ireland. We genuinely believe there are real opportunities here if we can eliminate some of the unnecessary bureaucracy.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not explicitly commit to working within Cabinet and Government but referenced ongoing negotiations with the EU.
Response accuracy