Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to encourage the recycling of food waste in schools and hospitals.

The Government encourages Departments to include contract terms that result in reduction of food waste and in diversion of food waste from landfill, both when tendering contracts and during contract management. Central government procurers directly or through their catering contractors are required to apply the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering (GBS), which include minimum mandatory standards for inclusion in tender specifications and contract performance conditions, including the prevention and management of food waste. Tenders which go beyond these minimum standards and meet award criteria will score more highly when competing for contracts. Since March, hospitals are now also required to meet the GBS, via the NHS Standard Contract.

In addition, both the Department of Health and the Department for Education are signed up as supporters of the Hospitality and Food Service Agreement (HAFSA), a voluntary agreement with the hospitality and food service sector, managed by WRAP. HAFSA has targets for signatories to prevent food waste and recycle food and packaging. WRAP is also working directly with the Hospital Caterers Association, to promote food waste prevention and management within hospitals.