Asked by: Henry Smith (Conservative - Crawley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that vegans and vegetarians are provided with appropriate food in the (a) NHS, (b) social care and (c) other health services.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
For the National Health Service, social care and other health services, the Care Quality Commission regulates providers on compliance with Regulation 14 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. This states that health and social care providers must consider people’s preferences, religious and cultural backgrounds when providing food and drink, and that people must have their nutritional needs assessed as quickly as possible and food be provided to meet the needs identified.
NHS England published updated NHS Food Standards in November 2022. The standards set out that menus should be tailored to meet patient’s dietary requirements and personal preferences. To that end, all hospital sites are expected to prepare and provide menus that meet all necessary types of dietary, religious and cultural needs. Vegetarian and vegan meals and snacks have long been part of this choice, and particularly with the focus on providing lower carbon choices, plant based meals are being provided as an extensive range.
Asked by: Henry Smith (Conservative - Crawley)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of (a) legal and (b) other protections for the right of vegans and vegetarians to manifest their beliefs in care settings.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Ethical veganism has previously been found to be a philosophical belief under the Equality Act 2010 by an employment tribunal, in an employment context. While this is not binding in other cases, all employers and service providers, including those who administer care homes and hospitals, should have regard to the differing dietary needs of people who they provide meals to, whether these are determined by health considerations, religious or philosophical belief. Providers should also recognise that food is not the only aspect of how ethical vegans conduct their lives and where possible should ensure that these other aspects are catered for.
Care providers should be aware that service users such as care home residents and ward patients may bring claims under the Act, where they consider they have been treated less favourably because of their belief in ethical veganism. In addition, public sector providers are subject to the Public Sector Equality Duty which requires them, in carrying out their functions, to have due regard to the need to achieve the objectives set out under s149 of the Equality Act 2010 to:
(a) eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act 2010; (b) advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it and (c) foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it. Specific duties, set out in regulations, ensure transparency, and assist in the performance of this duty.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulate care homes as well as other health and care providers. One of the fundamental standards is on nutritional and hydration needs. Please see the link below.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - Wolverhampton South West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to encourage the growth of local hospitality-based businesses that specialise in healthy vegan and vegetarian eating options.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
We are keen to ensure we have a vibrant and diverse hospitality sector.
As such, we are continuing to work across the entire hospitality sector with the aim of ensuring it is in a strong position to restart as soon as the conditions are right to ease restrictions.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question
To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, what plans the Commission has to (a) increase choice in parliamentary catering for vegetarians and vegans and (b) set prices that reflect the true cost of producing food.
Answered by Tom Brake
Catering services have increased the number of vegetarian and vegan options across all menus over the past year and there are plans for the range to continue to grow this year. Catering services will continue to support National Vegetarian week and Vegan Month. Some chefs have also attended a two day training course looking at new ideas in plant-based foods to enhance the menus, with further development opportunities planned.
Catering prices are reviewed on an annual basis and amended to reflect one year’s change in the food price index (a subset of the consumer price index) and applied as a standard percentage increase across the whole product range. New prices come into effect in April, at the beginning of each new financial year.
The Finance Committee sets the overall budget direction and targets, and the Administration Committee confirms that the pricing percentages work within the overall budget direction and target once they have been presented to them on an annual basis. The House of Commons Commission is asked for a final decision if agreement cannot be reached with both Committees.
The catering budget set for 2019/20 for food gross profit is to achieve a 62% gross profit margin. This food gross profit covers the cost of food production across all venues on the estate.
Any prices which need to adjust mid-year due to significant market supplier increases (a previous example being the increase in the price of salmon by 40% in 2016/17) will be reported back to Committees separately.