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

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:24 pm on 14 December 2022.

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Photo of Peter Fox Peter Fox Conservative 4:24, 14 December 2022

Thank you, Tom, and thank you for that challenge, and I know it's done as a critical friend. Food plans, I think, are absolutely fundamental to this. As I said earlier, there are many authorities trying to do things around food, but there is no joined-up approach across Wales to do this. We need local authorities to be able to—. We need to encourage them to regulate, if need be—well, this would require—for them to procure more locally. What the shape and the level and the target of that procurement is for the Government to set. But don't forget, local authorities have a responsibility for the young people they serve and they should aspire to this, and not everything should be seen, as I said earlier, in monetary terms. There's a social currency to these things, if we really want to make change. The councils I have spoken to have welcomed it. Look at my consultation responses from Monmouth, from Swansea; look at the health board responses from Betsi Cadwaladr to our own health board, who say there is a need for this and the importance of it. These are the people I'm asking to put a food plan in. They're not saying, 'We don't want one; this is extra bureaucracy.' What they're saying is, 'Yes, we need it.' And that's why I absolutely believe we're heading in the right way with food plans, as is put in place in Scotland and is proved all over many countries.