5. Statement by Peter Fox: Introduction of a Member Proposed Bill: Food (Wales) Bill

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:23 pm on 14 December 2022.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Tom Giffard Tom Giffard Conservative 4:23, 14 December 2022

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I also welcome Peter Fox's statement this afternoon? As I share an office or have an office next door to yours upstairs, Peter, I know how hard you have worked on this Bill and your staff—in particular, Tyler Walsh—as well, so I think that's worth mentioning. 

I think this is, as others have said, the right Bill at the right time, because it delivers that joined-up approach to the food system. And what I wanted to come back to, which we have touched a little bit on, was the local food strategies, as drafted. As you know, probably more than anyone in this Chamber, councils will have already a lot of reporting requirements placed on them as a result of Government legislation that already exists, and we're aware that with each new regulation, each new Bill that gets passed through here, that requires financial and human resources for those councils, which, in some cases, are quite stretched already. So, how would you ensure that, from this Bill, councils see the opportunities that it can provide and not the burdens? How would they add value to those plans and facilitate community actions, rather than feel they're imposing them on their local communities as well? Thank you.