Oral Answers to Questions — House of Commons Commission – in the House of Commons at 9:30 am on 6 February 2014.
Duncan Hames
Liberal Democrat, Chippenham
9:30,
6 February 2014
What assessment he has made of the amount of food waste from catering outlets on the Parliamentary Estate.
John Thurso
Chair, Finance and Services Committee, Chair, Finance and Services Committee
Food waste from prepared dishes in the House of Commons catering outlets, as measured as a percentage against sales, is 3%. This is well below the national average for the catering industry, which is 5%. The Sustainable Restaurant Association has rated the House of Commons as a good-practice organisation in respect of food waste. We take a variety of measures to monitor and reduce the amount of food waste from catering outlets. There are plans to extend composting of food waste, which is already undertaken in the Palace in relation to other outlets.
Duncan Hames
Liberal Democrat, Chippenham
I thank my hon. Friend for that reply and for the progress that is being made. Does he agree that, as the Commission sees this challenge day in, day out, it would be wise for it to invite staff in the catering service to make their own suggestions on reducing food waste?
John Thurso
Chair, Finance and Services Committee, Chair, Finance and Services Committee
It has been my experience that staff suggestions are always worth looking at, but the real challenge is the 21% waste from domestic fridges—that is the real scandal.
John Bercow
Chair, Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, Chair, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, Speaker of the House of Commons, Speaker of the House of Commons, Chair, Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, Chair, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
That was a splendidly pithy reply, which allows us briefly to get on to the important matter of vermin infestation.
