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 help increase the amount of surplus food reaching local larders and community organisations in (a) Oxfordshire and (b) Didcot and Wantage constituency.

On 13 May, the Government reinforced its commitment to supporting those most in need by announcing a new national programme to redistribute surplus food. Defra is leading work across Government and with stakeholders to tackle avoidable food waste throughout the food supply chain and redistribution sector. In parallel, Defra is developing plans with local authorities to improve access to healthy, affordable food in areas of greatest need, recognising that locally designed and delivered solutions are often the most effective.