Written question asked by Baroness Redfern (Conservative) on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 21 July 2026. It was answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour) on Wednesday, 15 July 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Food: Public Sector

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve the transparency and accessibility of procurement processes to improve responsive procurement of local and seasonal food.

Answer: Defra is currently undertaking research across the public sector to improve understanding of current procurement practices, including local and sustainable sourcing. The research is expected to conclude in summer 2027 and its findings will inform future policy development. Further, Government has already published a new national procurement policy statement, which sets expectations for government contracts to favour products certified to high environmental standards that British producers are well-placed to meet.

Secondary information