Written question asked by Mike Penning (Conservative) on Tuesday, 8 November 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 10 November 2005. It was answered by Lord Knight of Weymouth (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 November 2005 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Commmunities Food Supplies

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list those (a) organisations, (b) communities and (c) categories of groups in receipt of Communities food supplies from intervention stocks under Regulation (EEC) 3149/92 as amended by Regulation (EC) 1608/2205; if she will list those that have received such aid in the United Kingdom since May 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: The Surplus Food Scheme laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) 3149/1992, as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) 1608/2005, allows member states to choose whether or not to participate in the scheme. The UK has chosen not to participate in this scheme since 1998, therefore no organisations, communities or categories of groups are currently in receipt of intervention stocks. The Rural Payments Agency no longer has records relating to this activity.

Secondary information