Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:07 pm on 17 November 2021.
Thank you, and the Member raises a really important point, and I’ve certainly had a look at that report, and you’ll be very aware, as a Government, we’re already committed to developing a community food strategy, which was in our manifesto, and was partly based on that report, about empowering community-led action, making the food system better connected with citizens, and creating a diverse supply. And it’s now in our programme for government, as you’re aware, and I’m very happy to work with whoever wants to take that strategy forward.
Food will absolutely be a common factor in the community food strategy, and I’ve already started to work with officials, looking at cross-Government initiatives, and it’s really interesting to see just how much budget is spent right across Government. When you look at it, practically every Minister’s portfolio has something that will bring forward into that community food strategy, and I think it will really strengthen our communities, it will improve well-being, it will provide opportunities for both mental and physical health and greening the environment. I’m very happy to commit to continuing to work with any Member who wants to take forward that strategy, to identify ways that we can adopt and develop ideas that were in that report that had been put forward.
I think we’ve got an opportunity also to take forward proposals around reducing food waste from businesses, and Peter referred to that also, through our planned regulations on business waste recycling. There are also opportunities to work with other Governments of the UK and with businesses in Wales on improved food labelling. I think that is absolutely vital.
So, where the Senedd can form a consensus on these issues, there will be many opportunities to put forward those shared priorities into practice—opportunities that I believe the proposed Bill, contrary to its intention, would diminish rather than enhance. So, I would urge Members to work with us on supporting local champions, for instance, to work with each other, with public bodies, with businesses, so everyone can play their role in maximising the benefits that we have to look at the well-being benefits of producing food, because there are many, many there, and distributing food more fairly and properly, valuing the role that food has in our communities.
I am unable to back the Member's Bill as proposed because I do believe its implementation would divert us from the priorities I believe we share, and I do also believe there are a lot of proposals—and Peter will be aware of this—in the Bill that I don't think require new legislation. However, I'm very keen to back him in his determination to identify ways to strengthen food security and improve well-being through encouraging the supply of the high-quality and sustainable food produced here in Wales. Diolch.