Question

To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many vending machines there are on the parliamentary estate; and what proportion of the items in those machines have (a) low or no and (b) high sugar content.

The House of Commons has ten vending machines provided by an external contractor:

• 4 hot beverage machines

• 6 chilled snack and cold beverage machines

In the majority of the chilled snack and cold beverage machines, out of 16 drinks items approximately 80% are lower sugar items; and out of 22 snack items approximately 50% are lower sugar items. It is more difficult to quantify for the products in the hot beverage machines, because the raw coffee or tea product can be turned into multiple finished products and purchasers can add sugar. However, based on the raw product alone, the hot beverage machines have a minimum of 66% low or no sugar products.