Question reference: S6W-26295
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 20 March 2024
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Current status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 9 April 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking with local authorities to ensure that healthy foods are both (a) available and (b) affordable within the most deprived communities.
Answer
Scottish Government is undertaking a range of actions to ensure healthy foods are available to and affordable for individuals living in areas of socioeconomic deprivation. This includes steps towards ending the need for food banks through our £1.8 million Cash-First Programme.
The programme will support eight public and third sector partnerships with four local authorities participating – Aberdeenshire Council, Fife Council, North Lanarkshire Council and West Dunbartonshire Council. This will strengthen urgent access to cash in a crisis and reduce the need for food parcels, meaning people can access the essentials they need whilst maintaining dignity.
Throughout 2023-24, we have also maintained funding levels for regional Community Food Networks so that they can continue to support people struggling to access healthier food options. The Networks help promote healthier diets in disadvantaged groups, whether that is due to lack of income, skills or cultural barriers. They provide a broad range of activities including: cooking classes, benefit checks, ‘grow-your-own’ food groups, cafés and food pantries.
Through funding the Healthy Living Programme, we are also helping convenience stores provide access to affordable healthier food options. More than two-thirds of the 2,300 strong Healthy Living Programme membership serves the most deprived areas of the country and ensures access to affordable, healthier food and drink in those communities.