Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for her statement today? Wales has a proud record of producing high-quality food and drink, and it’s crucial that the Welsh Government does all that it can to provide the right support to enable the sector to flourish locally, nationally and, indeed, internationally. Of course, this policy area is one that covers a number of Welsh Government departments—indeed, everything from health to education to the economy. So, it’s essential that any strategy in this area is co-ordinated effectively. So, I hope that the Cabinet Secretary will tell us what specific mechanisms she has put in place to ensure that any food strategy is appropriately managed and resourced across each Welsh Government department.

I very much agree with the Cabinet Secretary that, following the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, it’s now more important than ever that the Welsh Government is strategic and engaged. I understand that officials have held workshops regarding the potential impact of future tariffs on trade with EU countries on the food and farming industry, and that is something that I welcome. Today's statement recognises the challenges and opportunities that the Brexit vote has now delivered for the food and farming industries, but perhaps the Cabinet Secretary could provide us with some more detail on the Welsh Government’s agenda in this area, both in the short and longer term.

Whilst negotiations take place nationally, the Welsh Government has a duty to ensure that our domestic markets remain strong and that local sourcing of food and drink for contracts is encouraged to help build stronger links with small and medium-sized companies. Therefore, perhaps the Cabinet Secretary will tell us what new action the Welsh Government has taken to strengthen the domestic market in Wales to support SMEs and local producers in tendering for public sector contracts and to generally encourage the Welsh public to buy local.

Now, I'm sure that all Members will agree that a great way to promote local produce is through food festivals and farmers’ markets and, indeed, mobile farmers’ markets, which I know the Food and Drink Wales Industry Board are currently looking at. Indeed, research conducted by the Welsh Government's food division showed that promotion and advertising of the market were the most commonly identified support needs, and so there's an opportunity for the Welsh Government to be innovative in selling these markets to consumers. In light of that research, could the Cabinet Secretary confirm what new approaches are being considered to better promote food events and farmers markets, and what discussions has the Welsh Government had with local authorities about ways in which they could help promote this activity at a local level?

Of course, a strong food strategy is integral to the Welsh Government public health objectives, and it's important that we send out the right messages in terms of healthy eating in order to address matters such as obesity in our population. I'm aware of some of the fantastic work that the third sector already does in this area, as well as Public Health Wales and the Food Standards Agency, and even local authorities. However, perhaps the Cabinet Secretary could tell us how she’s ensuring that any food and drink industry policy works jointly alongside the Welsh Government's health and education agenda.

I note from today's statement that a food and nutrition GCSE has been introduced, but there's still so much more that we can do to explore ways to use Welsh produce to educate everyone, from our very eldest in society to our children and young people. Therefore, it’s crucial that at the very heart of this strategy is a commitment to ensure that our future generations are educated about food and drink, nutrition, and where that food comes from, but that they also have access to a career in that industry as well. The Cabinet Secretary and I share the same ambition to encourage more young people to consider the food and drink industry as a viable career option, and I welcome her commitment to engaging with children and young people, but perhaps the Cabinet Secretary could update us on the work that she has done with her officials to make the farming and food sectors more attractive to our future generations.

On a final note, Deputy Presiding Officer, I'd be grateful if the Cabinet Secretary would commit also to publishing job creation statistics and employment opportunity figures with each annual update so that Members can scrutinise the Welsh Government's action in this area. Deputy Presiding Officer, can I thank the Minister once again for her statement this afternoon? I am pleased that the industry is on track to deliver 30 per cent growth to £7 billion by 2020.