Question reference: S6W-11296
- Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 4 October 2022
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Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 October 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Short Life Food Security and Supply Taskforce report, whether the Food Security Unit has been set up and, if this is not the case, when it anticipates that this will take place, and what engagement it has had in this regard with (a) the UK Government, (b) the EU and (c) other international food security structures, including the European Food Security Crisis Preparedness and Response Mechanism (EFSCM).
Answer
The Programme for Government 2022 to 2023 on 6 September 2022, outlined that a dedicated Food Security Unit would be established within the Scottish Government with a view to monitoring ongoing supply chain vulnerabilities and linking with future food security work’. The Food Security unit is in the process of being established.
However, until the unit is officially established and underway, work is being taken forward by officials in regards to food security including the completion of other recommendations from the Short Life Food Security and Supply Taskforce Report as well as regular engagement with the Food and Drink industry.
The Scottish Government takes the topic of food security in Scotland seriously and I, as well as my fellow Scottish Ministers continue to press the UK Government, urging them to take action immediately on particular issues they have control over. I also recently wrote to the UK Government again to highlight the cumulative impact on the food and drink sector of labour and skills shortages and now rising costs.
We also continue to have a range of regular engagement with the EU, including on the important issue of food security and the associated work of the European Food Security Crisis preparedness and response Mechanism.
Scottish Ministers and officials will continue to work closely with industry representatives, and continue to engage across the sectors and governments in relation to food security and supply issues.