Dr Coffey was giving evidence to the Commons’ Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) Committee alongside Defra’s deputy director of waste and recycling Chris Preston in the Thatcher Room at Portcullis House, a short distance from the Palace of Westminster. She effectively rules out legislation to require collection of food waste in England.
The evidence session, which is part of an ongoing inquiry by the Efra Committee into the UK’s food waste policy began at 2.15 pm, but was temporarily suspended at close to 2:37 pm when MPs were called to the Commons to vote.
The Metropolitan Police hs confirmed that officers were called nearby to what was viewed as a terrorist incident at approximately 14:40.
Evidence
MPs had initially agreed to return to the room to continue the evidence session shortly afterwards.
However, the session did not continue as all parliamentary business has been suspended for the day whilst police continue to investigate the incident.
Full details of the incident have yet to be officially confirmed, but Police were asking people to avoid nearby Parliament Square, Whitehall, Westminster Bridge and Lambeth Bridge.
Prior to the evidence session having been suspended, MPs had asked Dr Coffey about progress towards the targets set out in the Courtauld Commitment, collection consistency between local authorities and action by retailers to encourage food waste prevention.
On statutory measures to encourage food waste collection, Dr Coffey said: “I am likely to take a more proactive approach, but falling shy of regulation. We don’t want central government mandating exactly the collection systems for each area.”
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