AN AGREEMENT worth £3.3 million has been reached between Glasgow City Council and McLays Limited to supply schools with fresh fruit and vegetables over three years.

During a committee meeting on Thursday, city councillors approved the request of a contract for the supply and delivery of fresh fruit and vegetables to the catering company which is based on Glentanar Road.

The local authority’s annual spend of fruit and veg in the last 12 months was just £455,064 which was significantly lower than the previous years due to the impact of Covid-19.

The forecasted annual spend is estimated at £1.5 million and it is predicted Glasgow City Council will use the same amount this financial year.

The contact will benefit primary and secondary schools as well as lunch clubs as the council has an ongoing requirement for fresh fruit and vegetables to be delivered to all catering sites run by Encore, Education and the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP). It also includes care homes and day centres.

During the meeting councillors praised the company for paying its employees the living wage but asked about steps used to prevent slave labour.

Councillor James Scanlon said: “I am delighted to see McLays pay its employees the real living wage – good on them.”

Colleague and councillor James Kavanagh added: “While we have ethically sources products, does the council actually go down and inspect these areas to see that there is no slave labour being used.

“If we do, how many times do we go down and is there a record kept of our visits?”

Mr Kavanagh was informed that inspections and audits of the premises were carried out regularly.

Members then unanimously agreed to support the contract.