GOVERNMENT BUYING STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC SECTOR FOOD

That this House welcomes the principle of introducing Government Buying Standards to bring about much needed improvements to the health, ethics and environmental sustainability of public sector food and to stimulate much needed economic growth in local economies; further welcomes the comments from the National Farmers Union that buying Farm Assured food under Government Buying Standards will provide a significant boost for British farmers; is concerned that the standards will apply to only one-third of the public sector; and calls on the Government to extend Government Buying Standards to cover all public institutions including schools, hospitals and care homes.