Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to extend the Army EATS programme to other services.

Responding to unequivocal feedback about the standard of dining in Defence, and the direct implications for morale, operational effectiveness, recruitment and retention, the Ministry of Defence has taken action to improve Defence catering services. The Defence Catering Strategy (DCS) was approved in 2023 and implementation began in May 2024. The DCS was built from the conclusions drawn from the Delivering Defence Dining Quality Review, (led by the Institute of Naval Medicine, on behalf of all three Services and delivered in 2022), and the Army’s Exploring the Appetite of Today’s Soldiers pilot (2023) and considers the recommendations made in the Haythornthwaite Review of UK Armed Forces Incentivisation (2023).

Implementing the DCS will involve further trialling of changes and regularly reviewing and adjusting provision. This will take place in single Service and joint establishments including, for example, a series of Improved Catering Experience trials at Royal Air Force units considering enhanced opening hours, technology supported access to the dining offer and the dining environment.