5. 90-second Statements

– in the Senedd at 3:39 pm on 1 March 2023.

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Photo of Elin Jones Elin Jones Plaid Cymru 3:39, 1 March 2023

(Translated)

Thank you, Minister, for those answers. The next item is the 90-second statements, and the first statement today is from Jenny Rathbone. 

Photo of Jenny Rathbone Jenny Rathbone Labour

Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. I understand that our patron saint, Dewi Sant, told Welsh soldiers to wear the leek on their helmets so that they could distinguish their comrades in battle from the Saxons who wore similar armour. This suggests that leeks must have been much more plentiful in the first century than they are in the twenty-first century, if they were being used for decoration rather than food. 

Whilst one of the supermarkets I visited on Monday evening had run out of leeks, the other two did have them. But the one I bought in the supermarket, and the other from my local street barrow were grown in Lincolnshire. Nevertheless, there has been progress in growing these iconic Welsh vegetables in Wales since I raised this matter in the Chamber on St David's Day last year. For example, in Morrisons, who currently sell both Blas y Tir leeks and Lincolnshire leeks, from July this year, the Lincolnshire leeks will be replaced by Welsh leeks in all of the Morrisons Welsh stores. And, like many other supermarkets, they are promoting Welsh leeks and other locally sourced products, including Welsh daffodils, as part of their St David's Day celebrations.

Puffin Produce and its trademark Blas y Tir remain the Welsh market leader for leeks and many other vegetables, and its leek production is expanding from 1,600 tonnes this season to 2,600 tonnes in the next season—being planted in the next couple of months. Now, this really welcome development is supported by a £1.2 million capital investment in a state-of-the-art leek washing and packing line, 40 per cent of which is being covered by a Welsh Government food business investment grant scheme— 

Photo of Elin Jones Elin Jones Plaid Cymru 3:41, 1 March 2023

Fascinated as I am—[Laughter.]—by the new processing of leeks plant, this is a 90-second statement. 

Photo of Jenny Rathbone Jenny Rathbone Labour

Okay. I will just complete by saying we now have protected geographical indication status for Welsh leeks since last November, so there's a lot to celebrate about the Welsh leek.  

Photo of Elin Jones Elin Jones Plaid Cymru

And I'm sure that you'll carry on your campaigning for Welsh leeks into the future. Thank you, Jenny Rathbone, for that cause. Sarah Murphy. 

Photo of Sarah Murphy Sarah Murphy Labour

Diolch, Llywydd. This Monday marks the beginning of Eating Disorder Awareness Week, a time to emphasise that eating disorders are not all about food itself, but about feelings. The theme this year is recognising and raising awareness that men get eating disorders too, because Beat Eating disorders charity did a survey, finding that one in three had never accessed treatment and one in five had never spoken about their struggles. So I would ask all of my colleagues and people watching to please visit Beat's website to read their stories and help men get help too. The cross-party group for eating disorders will be re-established this week to address this and many other issues. I want to thank Bethan Sayed, who served as the previous chair, as well as Jo Whitfield and Amelia Holt, from Beat Eating disorders who have been excellent secretariats.

Finally, I want to thank everyone who has reached out since I spoke in the Senedd about my own lived experience with an eating disorder, whether that's to offer support or to share their own story, including Georgia Taylor from Bridgend, who is working with me now to share our experiences, so that others can understand and feel less alone. An eating disorder is never the fault of the person experiencing it, and anyone who has an eating disorder deserves fast compassionate support to help them get better, because we can get better. Diolch. 

Photo of Elin Jones Elin Jones Plaid Cymru 3:42, 1 March 2023

(Translated)

Thank you, Sarah Murphy, for that contribution.