Food Security

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd – in the Senedd at 2:55 pm on 28 September 2022.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 2:55, 28 September 2022

Well, we are doing a great deal to ensure that's the case. I absolutely agree with you that it shouldn't always be about the cheapest; there is a social value, and you'll be aware, as you say, of what we are doing in relation to procurement to ensure that happens. I don't disagree with a lot that's in Peter Fox's food Bill, as he knows. I think a lot of that we can do without legislation, and we are currently doing. Again, some of Peter's suggestions you will see in the agriculture Bill, because I think that the two go hand in hand, along with our community food strategy, which is part of the co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru, and I'm having discussions with Cefin Campbell, the designated Member, to see what more we can do there. There are also the free school meals—again, part of the co-operation agreement—where we are using local food producers far more than we certainly did before. I'm very pleased with the investment and the support that we as a Government give to our food and drink manufacturers, and we've had our money returned, I think, many times. We're the only part of the UK that increased the exports significantly, and, again, the foundational food sector here in Wales is worth over £8.5 billion, so we absolutely support our Welsh food and drink producers.