Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Defence’s response to a more contested and volatile world, published on 18 July 2023, CP 901, when his Department commissioned a review into catering provision; and who led that review.
Answer
The 2 Star Military People Leadership Team in the Ministry of Defence commissioned the Delivering Defence Dining Quality (3DQ) Review, led by the Institute of Naval Medicine on behalf of all three Services, and which reported in December 2021. The Army took the findings from this, and then looked more broadly at the needs of their people through the ongoing Exploring Appetites of Today's Soldiers (EATS) study, and subsequent pilot, which together with the annual Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey, has led to a new Defence Catering Strategy (DCS) for all three Services.
The implementation of the DCS is being driven by Director Armed Forces People Policy working with, amongst others, the single Services and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation who are responsible for the delivery of catering contracts. The DCS puts the needs of personnel at the heart of the provision, with healthier dining choices available, at a subsidised rate, and delivered in a fashion better aligned to modern-day living. Ahead of new contracts in 2026, we are working with industry providers to bring in as many aspects of the new food provision as possible from January 2024.