Chamber and committees

You are absolutely right that some local authorities are quite far advanced—in particular, Fife has the Food4Fife strategy, and other local authorities are quite far advanced in the work that they are taking forward—whereas others are at the earlier stages of that work, as I have outlined. Section 10 has not yet been commenced, as Tracy McCollin has just outlined. We are very much in discussions with local authorities about collecting all that information, but we are not yet collecting it all. We would not expect all local authorities to have delivered their plans, because that section has not been commenced, and we are still involved in those discussions. However, as Tracy McCollin outlined, we are having those conversations because we want to make sure that local authorities feel ready and that they have the information that they need to progress that work.

Some local authorities started on the journey of looking at their food strategies in advance of the good food nation work. Some of them have just been more proactive in that space than others. We will have specific legislative requirements in the development of those plans. I have mentioned the strategy in Fife, Glasgow has done some work, and South Lanarkshire has also developed a strategy. The good food nation plans will have a specific set of requirements, including legislative requirements, that we will expect local authorities to adhere to—even within their own strategies.

We discussed this issue, including what those timescales should be and what the requirements should look like, in the scrutiny of the act. The Parliament then agreed to have that 12-month timescale from the point that section 10 is commenced. That is why we have not gone right in and triggered that part of the act. As we have seen in developing our plan, engagement with local authorities gives us a better understanding. We do not intend there to be any surprises. We will not suddenly launch into this, giving all local authorities that 12-month timescale. We want to make sure that we get it right by ensuring that local authorities have the right guidance in place and that they feel able to commence that work. That is why on-going engagement with local authorities is really important.

Some local authorities may need resources, such as specific people, in advance to develop their plans. I do not know whether Tracy McCollin would like to point out anything specific.

You are right that, when section 10 commences, local authorities will have 12 months to develop their good food nation plans. That is why we do not want to rush the commencement of section 10. We want to ensure that, by the time we reach the trigger point for the 12-month period, people feel that they have the resources that they need and feel able to complete their plans within the timeframe.

That is part of the discussions that we are having with local authorities right now. There may be a requirement for resources in advance of the commencement of section 10 if, for example, recruitment is involved.

That is an important point. In the legislation, we tried to strike a balance by setting out the principles that we would expect and like local authorities and health boards to follow in their plans while ensuring that there is flexibility so that people can determine outcomes locally. The outcomes in Glasgow could be very different from those in my local authority of Angus, so I think that it is only right that we have flexibility. I would like to think that we struck the right balance. I do not remember too much concern being expressed about that when the act was initially scrutinised, in 2022. We want to have flexibility and ensure that local authorities feel that they can work towards the outcomes that will be the most meaningful for them, but scrutiny and monitoring will be really important.

As I have said, we have set out the principles and have said that local authorities must have regard to the national good food nation plan. There have been different workshops and there will be continued engagement with health boards and local authorities so that, overall, the guidance will be helpful in the development of their plans.

The Scottish Food Commission will have an important role in scrutinising and providing information, research and advice. It will look at whether the plans are delivering against the outcomes that have been set out nationally and by relevant authorities. The commission will have a critical role, which it is important to highlight.

There is a lot to unpack in that question. I will ask Laura Hunter to come in on some of the specifics of our work on procurement.

Within the plan, we recognise that public procurement is hugely important in terms of overall spend and the change that we can try to lever in through it—about £220 million is available to public authorities for food procurement in particular. We also recognise that, unfortunately, not all aspects of food procurement necessarily are in areas that are easy to resolve. We have to give consideration to World Trade Organization regulations, which do not allow us to specify that a purchase must be local.

We have to work carefully within the legal parameters that are set out for us. A number of pieces of legislation, including regulations, and statutory guidance have been introduced over the past few years in order to provide that flexibility for procurement so that we can see more local produce within our supply chains and see the benefit for our small and medium-sized enterprises, and it is an area that is often raised with me in the chamber. That is why we think it important to make that flexibility a focus within the plan. For example, there is currently flexibility in designing menus—authorities can focus on food with protected geographical status and different assurance schemes, such as the ones provided by Quality Meat Scotland, and they can specify free-range and organic food—and contracts can be divided into smaller geographical lots.

So much work is under way to ensure that we are helping small and medium-sized businesses. In terms of the overall trajectory, about 60 per cent of around 17,000 supplier contracts go to Scottish SMEs. It is an area where we have seen gradual increases. However, we recognise that more can be done. That is why all that work is under way.

Laura Hunter will be able to provide more specific information about that work.

I think that I am aware of the example that you raise. As far as I am aware—I am sure that Laura Hunter will correct me if I am wrong—guidance and regulation about price and quality being factors in procurement were brought in around 2016. Although that supplier lost out on the contract, it had the contract previously, which shows that it is possible.

Within the mix of domestic legislation and international legislation that we must abide by in this respect, we have tried to ensure that we are providing as much flexibility to encourage local suppliers to bid for those contracts and also to be successful in bidding.

I believe that the flexibility is there to enable that to happen; however, if the committee hears evidence that says otherwise, it is important for us to reflect on that and see whether more can be done. We see local authorities do it—they award those contracts to local suppliers—and we want to see more of that, so we seek to enable it.

Obviously, in that example, the decision is for East Ayrshire Council, so we would not expect to try to change that. That decision is up to the council, and it has taken it. However, as I said in my response to Willie Coffey, ensuring flexibility to help our smaller and local producers access such contracts is important. That is part of the work that Laura Hunter described earlier.

On that example specifically, there will be other opportunities. Scotland Excel is going to the market with its next generation of milk and alternative dairy products framework. The things that we look at include whether contracts can be broken down into smaller lots or geographical areas that will enable some of the local producers to bid for them.

There will be other opportunities. The supplier who unfortunately lost out in that situation supplies the Scottish Government through our overall catering contract. We try to make sure that we are working with businesses so that they feel confident enough in the first place to bid for contracts. The ability is there. I do not know whether Laura Hunter wants to add anything or whether I have covered it.

I envisage the Scottish Food Commission having the role that is clearly set out in the legislation; that is the expectation. It is great to have an independent perspective on what we are doing and at the policies across the piece.

The Food Commission has a broad range of experience. The chair and three members have now been appointed, and they will have a critical role in assessing our policies. Especially during the review periods, if something is not working, the Food Commission will be able to set that out so that we can set out how we intend to change course. I also see the Food Commission as being helpful with the data gaps that we talked about and understanding where we need more research. It will be helpful to be able to have discussions with the Scottish Food Commission and get its assistance in that regard. Scrutiny is very important, but the research element and the provision of further advice on the broad range of areas that the plan covers will also be helpful.

I thank the committee for inviting me to give evidence. I attended the Health , Social Care and Sport Committee last week to talk about the health and social care aspects of the proposed national good food nation plan. It is good to be back in Parliament appearing in front of a committee. This might be my first appearance before this committee, but my appearing here shows the broad spectrum of interest in the good food nation plan and how many different policy areas it touches.

Being a good food nation means different things to different people. We probably all agree that Scotland’s food system has a lot of strengths. For one thing, we are renowned for the incredible produce that comes from both our land and seas, but we must also acknowledge that our food system faces many challenges. A key aim of our work through the proposed good food nation plan that we are discussing today is to shift that dial and create a food system that enables and promotes a healthy population, with all the benefits that stem from that.

The proposed national plan sets out the practical steps that we will take to embed this fresh approach to policy development across national Government. However, it will also be the first in a long line of good food nation plans.

It is a forward-thinking ambition, but we are realistic about the scale of the challenge. We are trying to make a systemic change, which will take time. This is an iterative journey, and the scrutiny and input of the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Food Commission and civil society more broadly will play an important role in shaping that. The committee will recognise the vital role that local government and our health boards will play in that work. Some are already leading the way in improving their local food systems, whereas others are just at the start of that journey. Ultimately, we are all working towards the same goal: for Scotland to be a nation in which people from every walk of life take pride and pleasure in, and benefit from, the food that they produce, buy, cook, serve and eat each day.

I look forward to continuing to work with the committee, the Parliament, local government and health boards as we progress that work.