8. How is the Welsh Government supporting the creation of food pantry schemes in Cynon Valley? OQ56851

Diolch yn fawr, Vikki Howells, for the question. On 6 September, we announced over £1.9 million of funding to tackle food poverty and food insecurity. Penywaun Primary School pantry received £6,254.82 to invest in a cabin that will house fridges and freezers, enabling them to reach more families and supply a more nutritious range of fresh and frozen items.

Thank you, Minister, for your answer. I've visited quite a few food pantry schemes in my constituency lately, including a really great scheme at Glyncoch last month, where I was really impressed by the variety of fresh and staple foodstuffs on offer, along with other advice services too. It's clear that food pantries have a significant and sustainable long-term role to play in the battle against food poverty and food waste. So, Minister, can you reassure me that support for the creation of food pantries is here to stay as part of the Welsh Government's long-term plans to address social inequality and environmental issues?

Thank you very much, Vikki. You've seen what the food pantry can do in your constituency, and the £2 million-worth of funding that I recently announced—and many Members here will be aware of initiatives in the country—the grant is designed to support sustainable projects and to help people access healthy and reasonably priced food. We obviously have an issue in terms of the fact that this was an EU grant and we're uncertain what future years will bring in relation to that funding, but we're committed to supporting these initiatives and, of course, it does link, as you say, to other key goals, like our aim to halve food waste by 2025 and the major impact that cutting food waste has on climate change emissions. The role of community food that our programme for government commits us to is the development of a community food strategy.

Thank you, Minister.