Disposable cups (2018)

Response

Please note that our response only deals with cups from venues for which the House of Commons is responsible. Some venues within Parliament are the responsibility of the House of Lords, which is a separate public authority for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). You may wish to consider forwarding your request to them. Requests for information relating to the House of Lords should be directed to FOILORDS@parliament.uk.

1. How many disposable hot drink cups were purchased in the Houses of Parliament in 2015, 2016 and 2017? I would like these figures broken down by month, if possible.
   This information is held by the House of Commons. 
   A monthly breakdown of disposable hot drink cups purchased in these years.
2. Are these cups recyclable?
   This information is held by the House of Commons.  Although these single-use cups are predominantly cardboard, they have a thin PET plastic inner coating (rather than fully polystyrene, for example).  Although there are only a handful of facilities in the UK that are able to process these for recycling – meaning that technically they are recyclable - our cups are not currently recycled. 
3. What is the cost to Parliament of making/buying the cups?
   Whilst disposable hot drinks cups are not made by the House of Commons, the cost of purchasing them from our supplier is held by the House.
   However, the purchase cost of these products is commercially sensitive information and therefore exempt under section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) because the disclosure of this information would be prejudicial to the House’s and our supplier’s commercial interests.  This is a qualified or non-absolute exemption and the public interest test applies.
   We have considered the public interest the disclosure of this information.  These factors include the importance of transparency in the decision making process relating to the spending of public money to ensure that procurement processes are conducted in an open and honest way.  It is also important for the public to see taxpayers’ money being used effectively and public authorities getting value for money for the items they purchase. 
   We have also considered the public interest in withholding this information.  Disclosure of unit prices presents a strong risk that the House's bargaining position for the future.  The House may have negotiated or been offered favourable terms by their supplier which is a perfectly acceptable way of getting the best value for tax-payer’s money.  The disclosure of this information will prejudice future discussions and commercial organisations may become reluctant to enter into further free and frank negotiations.  This would undermine the House’s ability to fulfil its role effectively and prevent it from achieving the value for money that is so important. The commercial interests of the third parties with whom we do business may also be prejudiced if details of specific prices or services are disclosed to the public and their competitors.  For these reasons we consider that the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosure.  
   
4. Does the House of Commons Catering Service sell re-usable coffee cups and if so, how many were sold in 2015, 2016 and 2017?
   This information is held by the House of Commons.  A test purchase of 500 reusable “Keep Cups” was made in 2013, which were sold in House of Commons venues. The following numbers have been sold since:
   2013  358
   2014  78
   2015  3
   2016  1
   2017  0