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Northern Ireland Office: Catering

Asked by Gareth SnellLabour (Co-op)Northern Ireland OfficeTabled Answered 28 October 2025UIN 83338

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what proportion of (a) tableware and (b) crockery used in (i) his Department and (ii) Hillsborough Castle is made by a British manufacturer.

Answered by Hilary Benn

The Government is committed to supporting British businesses and ensuring they have the best chance to win public contracts.

Crockery and tableware at Northern Ireland Office buildings and Hillsborough Castle has been sourced over a number of years from various suppliers. However, full information about the country of manufacture is not available. A percentage of the crockery used within the department and Hillsborough Castle was however manufactured in the United Kingdom.

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