Alex Jackson from Sustain, the alliance for better food and farming, writes for ePolitix.com ahead of today's Westminster Hall debate on public procurement and farm animal welfare.
Chris Mullin MP, member for Sunderland South, has kindly tabled the debate on behalf of Sustain.
He will call on the government to introduce legislation that will prohibit the purchase of cage eggs in catering for schools, hospitals, care homes and other public sector institutions, and require the purchase of free range eggs.
The European Commission will outlaw the production of cage eggs in EU member states by 2012.
The UK government, however, has so far said only that it will "consider" banning cage eggs from public sector organisations in 2011 and has failed to make this compulsory.
Unless animal welfare procurement rules are introduced, this is likely to result in public sector food buyers switching to buying their eggs from overseas, and failing to support British and European producers who have met the higher welfare standards.
In total, £2bn of tax payers' money is spent on public sector food each year and Mr Mullin will make the case for the introduction of wider health and sustainability standards for the procurement of this food.
"It is important that government leads by example to support animal welfare," Mr Mullin said.
"Prohibiting public sector organisations from buying cage eggs would make a huge difference to the welfare of millions of hens.
"Government has a responsibility to use public money wisely to support ethical food choices."
Health and sustainability standards would support the purchase of food that is nutritionally balanced, produced using farming systems that are not harmful to the environment, e.g. organic, protects fish stocks and the welfare of animals, and increases the procurement of local, seasonal food.
Spending taxpayers' money on food that meets these standards would support the health of those eating the food, the environment where it is produced, and local suppliers from whom it is purchased.
