Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to reduce food waste in her Department.

The government is committed to improving its own impact upon the environment. The Greening Government Commitments requires departments and agencies to measure and report to Defra on food waste for estates with over 50 full time equivalent staff and or over 500m2 floor area offering a food service.

The Department is taking a number of steps to measure and reduce food waste. At our London headquarters building the catering provider is a signatory to the industry-wide WRAP Courtauld 2030 commitment, which includes reducing food waste by 50% by 2030.

At our other site where we have onsite catering arrangements we work with food charities to donate surplus food items at the end of each day (as required). On site staffing forecasts are also provided in order to determine daily food quantities required. This minimises the risk of over-ordering and reduces food waste.