FOI Request - Food and Drink Products used in Schools

Request 101003061292

For question 1, please use the Microsoft Excel File format provided. For question 2-6, please respond direct via email or with a PDF attachment.

1.  For the following products of food and drink used by the local authority in schools, please supply:
•  Beef
•  Fish
•  Poultry
•  Milk
•  Eggs
•  Potato
•  Carrots
•  Peas
•  Raspberries

a.  The percentage of products:
i.  Originating locally (within the local authority)
ii.  Originating within other parts of Scotland
iii.  Originating within other parts of the UK
iv.  Originating outside the UK

b.  Please disclose the total spends by origination location:
i.   Locally (within the local authority)
ii.  Within other parts of Scotland
iii.  Within other parts of the UK
iv.  Outside the UK

2.  Does the local authority contract directly with any supplier for any food or drink products used in schools? If yes, please provide the following details:
a.  Please give the details of each supplier including:
i.  Which firms are based within the local authority area?
ii.  Which firms are based within Scotland and where?
iii.  Which firms are based within other parts of the UK and where?
iv.  Which firms are based outside the UK and where?

3.  Does the local authority procure any food or drink products through any existing frameworks? Please list the frameworks used.

4.  Does the local authority have a policy to consider the location of origin of their food and drink products within schools during procurement? If yes, please describe.

5.  Does the local authority have a policy to consider where processed food and drink products served within schools are manufactured during procurement? If yes, please describe.

6.  Does the local authority have a policy regarding support of local farmers and food producers in its procurement practices? If yes, please describe.

Response 24-05-2022

1. and 2. We would need to go through every invoice to see what was purchased and where from, amount ordered, especially due to current supply chain issues. This would cost the Council in excess of £600. In accordance with section 12 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, excessive cost, we are therefore unable to comply with your request.

3.  Scotland Excel framework is used for the following: Groceries, Frozen Foods and Milk.

4. This information is exempt under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information Not Held. In order to be helpful please see the department's response below:

 There is not a defined policy but these elements would be considered as part of our sustainability duty and are generally incorporated into our procurement strategy for each tender. Sustainable sourcing would form part of the technical questions and evaluation of the tenders and are weighted accordingly which suppliers are scored upon. Additionally our contracts adopted on a National basis are subject to engagement with the National Farmers Union and will continue to be developed in accordance to correspondence to them in coming framework generations.

5.  As per answer to Q4.

6.  As per answer to Q4.