Thank you to Plaid Cymru and Luke Fletcher for introducing the debate today. If I may, I'd like to use my contribution to expand the scope of the original motion away from just the impact of the cost of living on food poverty. It's important that we consider the wide range of socioeconomic factors that can influence whether a person can access food and what food they can access, and it's the very last point I made that I'd like to focus on in particular. It's something that has been discussed as part of my food Bill proposal, discussed in here not too long ago, which I'm pleased Members supported.

I know we all agree that food poverty is totally unacceptable and it doesn't need to be. We need to see action by all Governments to deliver a more prosperous future for all people, not just here in Wales but the UK as a whole. But in Wales we can do more. We need to do more—and I'm not going to try to find lots of people to blame—because these things are in our gift. As people in this place, it's in our gift to make a difference and to do things. Fine words are fine, but actions are what makes a real difference, and we have the power to do these things.

It was back in 2016 that a report from the Public Policy Institute for Wales argued that, and I quote:

'The rise in food poverty, perhaps more than any other arena of food policy, demonstrates the multidimensional nature of food and the challenges this creates for policy makers.'

I think this is why we need an overarching, holistic food strategy for Wales—one that brings together the various approaches. There are many third sector organisations across the country doing some fantastic work, but we could bring them together into a unified approach that deals with the structural issues as well as the socioeconomic ones. Because food poverty takes many forms; it's not just about the ability to buy food, but what food a person can access. There's a stark difference between the ability to buy fast food and ready meals, for instance, and the ability to buy and use good quality, nutritious food. This is where we need to consider how things like schools and colleges can improve food education, so that people know how to use food in a beneficial way, as I raised earlier this afternoon with the Minister for education.

We also need to consider how food producers can take more responsibility to ensure that their produce meets the well-being goals, as well as how we get this local, healthy produce to market stalls and supermarket shelves. This is where things like local food plans can play a role. And, yes, we do need to consider how we make this food more affordable and attractive to people, as well as ensuring that people can buy the food in the first place.

To conclude, Llywydd, I welcome the opportunity to take part in this debate today, and I hope Members have found my comments to be constructive. Ultimately, every human being has a right to a nutritious and adequate food supply, as Mark Isherwood pointed out in starting, but the causes of food poverty are complex and inextricably linked to the form and function of the food industry itself. If we are finally to tackle food poverty, that's where I think we need to start. Diolch.