Chamber and committees

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 think that some of the plans that are being talked about in relation to public diners and their wider impact are really exciting; they seek to deliver on the outcomes that we have set out in the plan, and I am really interested to see where they go. I hope that we can build on and support the roll-out of some of those initiatives.

You talked about mental health, which is a really important element of the plan. It is one of the areas in the plan where we have identified that we do not have enough data and need to collect more. That will enable us to consider whether to develop indicators and how we can monitor those. We have picked up on areas in the plan in which we need to do more work.

I would say that we focus on the food system and the wider food environment. Changes were made to the plan on the back of specific references to that in the consultation responses.

Of course, as individuals, we all make choices, but the Government needs to make it easier for people to make the right choices. We need to make sure that, as it says in the plan, healthy and nutritious food is easily accessible. We also need to improve the food environment through, for example, restrictions that can be placed on advertising. All of the different policies that are being worked on across the piece contribute to improvements in the food system.

We want to make it as easy as possible for people to make the right choices. We have a good food environment in Scotland and a good food culture here as well.

I heard some of that directly myself in the engagement that I undertook during preparation for the plan. I spoke to catering teams to outline our vision for a good food nation in Scotland and the critical role that they will play in that and officials have undertaken that work, too. I hope that speaking to people directly and involving them in the conversation will show them how that has helped to shape what we have brought forward and will mean that we have outcomes that everyone feels they can be part of and can be serious about delivering.

You raise two really important points, particularly the one about venison. I will touch on one scheme. We have worked with the Soil Association, which provides the food for life served here scheme, which 16 Scottish local authorities have signed up to. The Soil Association is working closely with Argyll and Bute Council and Wild Jura to get a supply of venison into the school estate. That is really positive and I hope that other areas can learn from it. The scheme is not only about schools and local authorities. It has been looking at the care sector and universities and is branching out to support local supply chains, because we know the benefits that come from doing so.

It is important to highlight measures that will be taken forward through the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill. Parliament has had extensive discussion of and questions about community larders for venison. We have that healthy source of protein right on our doorstep and must ensure that more people in Scotland have access to it.

You asked about support for the wider supply chain, which is absolutely critical. If we want to have strong local supply chains we must ensure that the infrastructure for those is there. We have a small producers pilot scheme at the moment. Farmers and crofters in some of our most rural areas are particularly dependent on smaller abattoirs. We have provided funding for Dingwall, Mull, the mart in Orkney and Shetland to try to better co-ordinate those services so that they are fully utilised and well supported, because we know that supporting the work of the wider supply chain is hugely important, as you have rightly highlighted.

You are absolutely right: that is critical. If there is a sense that there is not enough in relation to that, we are more than happy to consider it. That is why the views on that are so important, especially if it is felt that they could be better reflected.

One thing that that highlights to me is the role of the specified functions and descriptions that we have set out in the legislation. The fact that ministers have to have regard to the plan when we are exercising specific functions and following policy is really important. The policy is still to be brought forward by regulation, so the detail is not there just yet. Taking breastfeeding as an example, when we are developing plans or strategies, we have to consider the good food nation plan and delivery of the outcomes in relation to that, as it is how we will deliver on what we have set out in the plan and the legislation. I am more than happy to consider whether that needs to be more clearly drawn out.