This would provide a formal platform in Westminster to strengthen the connection between British producers, the public sector supply chain and the people served by schools, hospitals, care homes and universities.
The call follows a letter sent earlier this summer to all MPs by the chairs of the member organisations of the Public Sector Catering Alliance, led by PSC Alliance chair Jayne Jones, who is also assistant director NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Love British Food is one of the longest-serving members of the Alliance, and is proud to help drive the growing conversation around how public money can be used to support British farmers and food producers through public procurement.
An APPG on Public Sector Food could help Parliament explore how to strengthen links between producers, caterers, and suppliers; improve the resilience and sustainability of public food supply chains; support the Government’s commitments to net zero and local sourcing; share best practice across the four nations and ensure value for money for taxpayers while backing British farmers.
Love British Food founder Alexia Robinson said: “British Food Fortnight has shown the incredible commitment across the public sector to buying British - from hospitals to schools, caterers are demonstrating the power of local sourcing to improve health, sustainability and wellbeing and increase the connection between producers, the supply chain and public food.
“An APPG on public sector food would give Parliament the chance to support this movement and help turn good practice into national policy. I urge MPs, from whichever political party, to get behind this.”
Since the election, at least seven MPs from across the political spectrum have asked written questions on food procurement — demonstrating rising parliamentary interest in how the public sector sources its food. These include:
- Sir John Hayes (Con) – asked multiple departments about the proportion of procured food sourced from the UK.
- Charlie Maynard (LD) – asked about the procurement of regeneratively farmed flour.
- Jonathan Davies (Lab) – asked about local procurement by public sector bodies in Derbyshire.
- Ian Roome (LD) – asked about progress towards the target of procuring 50% of food locally.
- Joe Morris (Lab) – asked for a timeline to meet procurement commitments.
- Steve Barclay (Con) – asked about compatibility between UK sourcing targets and WTO rules.
- Katie Lam (Con) – asked about procurement in England, Kent and her constituency.
- In the Lords, Baroness Mackintosh of Pickering (Con) asked about procurement of locally sourced food by state bodies.
Love British Food invites MPs, peers, and all members of the Public Sector Catering Alliance to support this proposal and join the conversation.