MP Gareth Snell Calls for British Food to Be Served on British Plates as Government Pledges Procurement Reform

Stoke-on-Trent MP Gareth Snell has secured a commitment to use public procurement more effectively to support British manufacturing and the ceramics industry.

Stoke-on-Trent MP Gareth Snell has secured a commitment from the Prime Minister Andy Burnham to use public procurement more effectively to support British industry, including the ceramics sector that is at the heart of the Potteries' economy.

During Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, Gareth Snell MP urged the Government to go further in its commitment to serving British food across the public sector by ensuring it is served on British made ceramic tableware.

Gareth highlighted the importance of ensuring that taxpayers' money supports jobs and manufacturing here in the UK.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Gareth said:

"I welcome what he said about serving British food across the public estate in this country, but may I push him further to suggest that British food should be served on a British plate, made by British ceramics, and that the houses that he wishes to build should be made with British bricks? Could I encourage him to go as fast as he can on rewiring public procurement, so that British jobs in this country can be benefited by the British taxpayers' pound?"

In response, the Prime Minister praised the Potteries and recognised the vital contribution of the ceramics industry to the region and the national economy.

The Prime Minister, Andy Burnham said:

"I will be a staunch defender of the Potteries in this House... I know the crucial importance of the ceramics industry to that part of the country."

"I do think that there is much more that we can do with public procurement in Britain to support crucial industries; I do not think that we have done enough in the past."

The Prime Minister confirmed that social value weighting can be applied across public procurement, making it more likely that contracts are awarded to British-based businesses, and pledged to challenge the practice of sending contracts overseas.

Gareth said the exchange demonstrates the strength of the case for backing British manufacturing and protecting skilled jobs in Stoke-on-Trent:

"The Potteries has been making world class ceramics for centuries, employing highly skilled workers and exporting products across the globe. Every effort should be made to ensure that only British made products are used in our schools, hospitals, and other public buildings.

"Public procurement can be a powerful tool for supporting local jobs, growing British manufacturing and strengthening our economy. I welcome the Prime Minister's recognition of our ceramics industry and his commitment to ensuring more public contracts benefit British manufacturers."