South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon has said that prisons should not be stopped from buying locally sourced food, as a new report finds that HM Prisons' Central Procurement Unit is investigating the cost of food purchased locally versus food purchased under a central contract. Mr Bacon said :
The Prison Service is extending its study of locally sourced food versus food sourced under a national contract across the prison estate.

“The improvements in Prison Service procurement are welcome, but it will be a great pity if the Prison Service stops individual prisons from buying locally sourced food”. 

“The Prison Service’s National Procurement Unit was told that locally-sourced food offered better value for money than central contracts.  The Unit investigated, but found that food bought under a central contract was actually the cheapest option.  Of course the central contract worked out cheaper, but the Unit has missed the point”.

“Locally sourced food is usually fresher, tastier and healthier than the alternatives.  Sourcing local food also keeps transportation costs down and supports the local community.  The Prison Service needs to remember this when it extends the study across the Prison estate”.

“Prisons should be allowed to source food locally”.

Mr Bacon was speaking as the National Audit Office published its report into the procurement of goods and services by HM Prison Service.  The report finds that the Prison Service has made major progress in achieving better value for money. 

In 2008 the Prison Service’s National Procurement Unit continued to receive feedback stating that local suppliers of food offered greater value for money than central contracts.  The Unit conducted a detailed product-by-product price comparison of foodstuffs purchased outside the national contract by HMP Leeds.  The Unit found that costs under the national contract were 9.2 per cent cheaper.  The Prison Service plans to extend this study across the rest of the prison estate.   

23 July 2008
 

See also::
NAO REPORT: Procurement by HM Prison Service