6. Will the Minister make a statement on how the Welsh Government supports and promotes the food and drink industry in mid Wales? OAQ53838

Thank you. The Welsh Government is supporting the growth of the food and drink industry across all of Wales. A £10 million call for proposals for investment in food businesses opened at the beginning of May. I intend to publish a consultation on future plans to develop the food and drink industry beyond 2020 by July.

Thank you for your answer, Minister. Later today, I'm a supporter of Jenny Rathbone's motion in regard to healthy school meals. In particular, I would like to see an increase in the amount of food for schools being procured locally. Can I ask, what is the Welsh Government doing to assist local authorities, such as Powys County Council and others, to source ingredients locally, where that is, indeed, possible, to improve food traceability, reduce food mileage and to ensure that school meals can be fresher, tastier, more nutritious, better for the environment and better for the local economy?

Absolutely. So, again, this is cross-Government working with several Ministers to ensure this happens. I think procurement is an area where we have a big opportunity. If we're clutching opportunities post Brexit, I think this is one area that we can do that. And as you say, if we buy local produce, it helps not just our farmers and our food producers, but also our climate.

Thank you very much. I think one thing that’s important in terms of food production companies in mid Wales, like my constituency in Anglesey, is to ensure that there is enough appropriate property available for businesses who wish to develop in this area. I do have a letter that’s ready to be sent to you—and I will do that today—about the principle of ensuring that there are adequate premises available. And I would welcome a pledge from you that you would be willing to work with me, as with other Members representing mid Wales, on ways of ensuring that those kinds of premises are available. Because in my constituency recently, a number of businesses have grown in the food sector, but I still think premises provided specifically for them would work better.

I think the Member makes a very important point. We've had discussions about this over the last two or three years, and if we're going to see these hubs developing, I think it's really important that we have food production standard buildings to go along with it. Obviously, we've got the food innovation centre in Llangefni, so I think it does lend itself to having that sort of food zone, if you like. So, I'd be very happy. I'll await your letter, and then we can take it from there.