Welsh press MoD to buy British
16 August 2000
Welsh press MoD to buy British
By FWi staff
WELSH farmers leaders are to meet with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in a bid to secure British meat for British troops.
National Farmers Union Cymru Wales officials will join the Meat and Livestock Commission in urging MoDs head of procurement Nigel Jarvis, to source British beef and lamb.
Earlier this month the NFU Cymru called on members not to allow armed forces personnel to train on their land until the MoD buys British.
A number of companies, including two Welsh firms, have tendered for the contract to supply 2,500 tonnes of lamb and beef for the Armed Forces.
The MoDs current stocks of British beef are running out and it buys 98% of its lamb from abroad.
Defence chiefs say they are forced to look overseas for frozen lamb because they could not strike a deal with farmers on price, capacity and logistics.
President of NFU Cymru Hugh Richards will join National Farmers Union deputy president Tim Bennett at the meeting.
Mr Richards said NFU Cymru had been in intensive negotiations with the MoD for the past 3 weeks over meat procurement arrangements.
We expect the MoD to choose British meat and support our farmers as our farmers have traditionally supported the MoD through allowing their land to be used for training exercises, said Mr Richards.