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<p>Government policy does not specify that public sector organisations should purchase
British food as this would go against current procurement rules and regulations. However,
the Government is keen to promote the sales of locally grown and ethically produced
food and drink in canteens on its estate.</p><p> </p><p>The Plan for Public Procurement,
published under the 2010-2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition Government,
aims to help procurers make more informed purchases. The plan included guidance, in
the form of a balanced scorecard, enabling bids for contracts to be assessed against
a set of Government buying standards for food.</p><p> </p><p>The balanced scorecard
rewards bids for contracts which commit to serve locally sourced food and those that
take advantage of seasonal increases in the availability of certain types of produce.
With regard to fair traded goods, the mandatory element of the buying standards requires
that 50% of tea and coffee must be sourced fairly, and to meet the best practice standards
100% of tea, coffee, bananas and cocoa must be fair trade. Use of the balanced scorecard
is mandatory for central Government departments and executive agencies.</p><p> </p><p>
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