Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the NHS Long Term Plan and NHS Planning Guidance commitments for 2019-20, what progress his Department has made on ensuring that the next version of hospital food standards is published in 2019, strengthening those requirements and pushing further in securing healthy food for staff and patients; and if he will make a statement.

The NHS Food Standards are currently being review and updated to specifically look at improving the food provided in healthcare settings for patient, visitors and staff.

This work is being led by the Food Standards and Strategy Group which includes representation from organisations with an interest in this area, including National Health Service trusts, NHS England and NHS Improvement, the Hospital Caterers Association, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Public Health England and commercial food suppliers. The groups work is divided into workstreams as follows:

- Patient experience;

- Patient hydration, nutrition and safety;

- Procurement, sustainability and food waste;

- Visitor, staff and retail; and

- Communications.

The Standards will be published later this year.