To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans, through Good Food Nation or other legislation, strategies or policies, to (a) prioritise Scottish farmers and (b) specify that no publicly procured meat or eggs should come from animals that have been caged.
The Scottish Government’s draft national Good Food Nation Plan sets out six over-arching Outcomes which indicate key areas to further develop our status as a Good Food Nation. These Outcomes have been developed with regard to a range of issues and principles set out in the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022, including the role of the food system in improving animal welfare and the importance of recognising all parts of the supply chain. The consultation on the draft national Good Food Nation Plan launched on 24 January and closes on 22 April ( https://consult.gov.scot/agriculture-and-rural-economy/national-good-food-nation-plan/ ).
We are aiming to increase the consumption, production, and provision of local food. The Scottish Government is using its legislation and policies to maximise the impact procurement can have for public bodies, suppliers and local suppliers and the Scottish economy. To promote local and sustainable produce public bodies have the flexibility to:
- Design menus that include Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) food
- Specify food produced according to recognised assurance schemes, e.g. Quality Meat Scotland, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Red Tractor, RSPCA, or equivalent bespoke company systems
- Specify free range and organic food
- Specify requirements based on menu plans that are based on freshness, high nutritional value using food in season and flexible and frequent delivery times
- Divide contracts into small product lots and geographic areas to encourage the active participation of local businesses where it is proportionate to do so
- Introduce a facility on some frameworks to enable small manufacturers who do not have national delivery logistics in place to bid on a supply only basis
- Introduce a secondary price list within tenders to allow framework suppliers the choice to offer Scottish produce
The Scottish Government is committed to continuous improvement in animal welfare: a statutory review into animal welfare legislation is due to be published in 2025. In 2023 there was a Programme for Government commitment to consult on phasing out cage production for laying hens and gamebirds: this will be published in due course.