7. Motion under Standing Order 26.91 seeking the Senedd's agreement to introduce a Member Bill: The Food (Wales) Bill

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:40 pm on 17 November 2021.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Peter Fox Peter Fox Conservative 4:40, 17 November 2021

This debate, for the most part, has been really positive and it's shown how effective this Chamber can be when we're able to bring ideas forward that don't necessarily always grab the headlines, but we've had an opportunity to carefully consider things that really do affect every one of us, every day. As Alun said, it goes to the heart of everybody's lives in Wales. The food system is the backbone of the rural economy, creating prosperity and delivering jobs. It helps to showcase the very best of Wales through exporting of our renowned produce, and we've heard a lot of that today as well. It helps to cut carbon emissions and fight back against climate change. It helps to feed the nation, improving people's health and well-being, and giving them a platform they need to get on.

It helps to give our children and young people the best start in life, as we heard from Laura and from Jenny Rathbone about the importance of having high-quality food into our schools, and the fact that those opportunities are there, yet so many of those bodies that can do something about that haven't managed to do it because there doesn't seem to be the weight to make those decisions happen, and we need to change that. Put simply, the food sector has a fundamental role to play in creating a more equal, healthier and greener Wales, as my colleague Sam Rowlands said.

I would like to welcome some of the work that the Welsh Government has been doing on this, and as I've said all along, this isn't about trying to work against the Government. I know, Minister, you recognise that. It's about how we work together collectively to enhance the opportunities for Wales. And let's not hang around. We need to move fast. We need a system that really works. 

Can I thank the contributors? Jenny, you raised some really strong points and I do thank you for your support. The points on food labelling are absolutely fundamental. As I said earlier, this isn't a silver bullet yet—it's the start of a process. This is where we'll need to work closely together. As I said, there is a need for us to work with all Governments. There are some things out of our control, so we need to influence Government to change the shape of things that have shortcomings.

That's why the commission is so important. I'm not talking of a navel-gazing commission that's looking at strategy for years and years. This is a commission that would do stuff, that would do things and make things happen with the right people on there to actually shape out and fill out some of these things that are seen as lacking. But with the labelling, I want to see it on meals when you go to a hotel. If you sit down and have a meal, you need to know that you're eating Welsh food. It needs to be labelled, and there are so many things we can do about that, but we've got a lot of work to do in fleshing all of this out, no pun intended.  

Cefin, thank you for your contribution. I recognise that many elements of this you and your party really support. I really do hear your messages and I really am thankful for the support you're offering me today. 

Alun, this is a catalyst for change. We spoke before about orange and green and what's happening in Ireland, and what a fantastic initiative—how can we apply some of that learning into what our food system needs? That's what we really do need—that joined-up thinking, that learning that we can bring together through sharing our experiences and sharing the experiences we've seen across the UK. 

I am disappointed, Minister, that you can't support the Bill, but thank you for your engagement to date and your correspondence. I appreciate that. I agree that we both, as do we all in this Chamber, share a similar goal of achieving a better future for the food system in Wales, and I really believe there is an opportunity for us to work together, as well as Members across this Chamber, to deliver on this.

I know, Minister, you believe that all I suggest could be delivered without legislation, but I have to disagree, and I have to ask: if Scottish Government can bring forward legislation on this issue and UK Government also are developing legislation on this, why not in Wales? What is stopping it, apart from political will? I'm not saying there's anything wrong with the system we have in Wales—there are some good bits in it—but we need that holistic direction to pull it all together, and I believe the Wales food strategy would do that.

I'm conscious, Deputy Llywydd, I am running out of time—[Interruption.] I'm out of time. Bear with me, two seconds. Voting in favour of this Bill is not to defy your political party, but to put the welfare and future success of Wales first. Failure to back this Bill will mean we are judged to have played party politics rather than put Wales first. Failure to back this Bill will be a vote against local producers and farmers as well as the health and well-being of consumers and communities across Wales. Failure to support this Bill will ultimately be judged as a historic mistake. Thank you, Members. Thank you, all.