The Guild is supporting the Good Food for Our Money Campaign (www.sustainweb.org/goodfoodforourmoney/) co-ordinated by Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.

The government spends more than £2 billion each year on public sector food, which means every individual UK taxpayer spends about £70 each year on food eaten in schools, hospitals, care homes, the armed forces and all other public organisations throughout the country. The Good Food for Our Money Campaign wants new government legislation to set standards for this public sector food, so that food bought with our money is healthy, good for the environment and invests in local and sustainable suppliers.

The first stage in this process has been achieved and Joan Walley, Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, is going to take forward the Bill as a Private Members' Bill. Joan was drawn in a ballot on 10 June 2010 and offered the opportunity to introduce to Parliament a Bill of her choosing. She has worked very hard in her constituency, and in Parliament, to improve school and nursery food so she represents the ideal person for us!

The Campaign passionately believes that this Bill, by introducing legal standards for public sector food, can transform the food served in public institutions. As well as the huge environmental and social benefits of serving better food, it will also improve the health of those eating the food - served to some of the most vulnerable members of society.