HEREFORDSHIRE ON THE MENU IN PARLIAMENT

11.12.18am GMT Wed 21st Jan 2004

Food for all the MPs, Lords, and parliamentary staff that work around Westminster is set to get a distinctly Herefordian flavour this week as part of a "Heart of England" promotion taking place in the Palace of Westminster's canteens.

The first day of the promotion, Wednesday the 21st of January, gives Westminster staff the chance to sample "Herefordshire Bacon, Pork and Apple Pudding" in the Portcullis House Cafeteria and "Sausages with Mustard Mash and Hereford Cider Sauce" in Parliament's Terrace Cafeteria.

Lib Dem MP for Hereford Paul Keetch has welcomed the news: "It's always good to see Herefordshire produce on the menus in Westminster. I always believe that getting Herefordshire as widely recognised and talked about as possible is a good thing. We live in a beautiful county that produces some wonderful food and drink and the more people that get a taste for Herefordshire produce the better.

Mr Keetch will be meeting Dennis Turner MP, the Chair of the Commons Catering Committee, on Wednesday to discuss the new promotion, and is hoping for some high-profile converts to Herefordshire produce.

"I know that Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott comes to eat at the Terrace on occasion, so having him supporting Herefordshire food and drink would be nice. I hope that the Prime Minister might pop in as well; I think he could do with a good meal given the pressure he's under at the moment."