Food Security

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd – in the Senedd at 2:54 pm on 28 September 2022.

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Photo of Tom Giffard Tom Giffard Conservative 2:54, 28 September 2022

The Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Bill, which will enshrine the principle of socially responsible procurement into law, establishes that procurement should be about more than simply who provides the cheapest product, but also the best. One way you can achieve this is through localised food supply chains, which, of course, provides opportunities for growth for local producers, as well as the fact that it's generally better for the environment and reduces the need to import food. Another way that you could achieve that aim, of course, is by backing Peter Fox's food Bill. But, the Welsh Government could do more to support producers to be ready to access opportunities to supply more of their produce within their local areas, such as scaling up businesses or accessing funding that they need to purchase equipment. So, with that in mind, Minister, how are you looking to help ensure that local producers are ready and willing to take advantage of such opportunities?