The Committee asked Scottish Government officials what the bill would do to ensure all local authorities embrace the good food nation plans as a mechanism to develop food-related policy; members highlighted the different levels of local authority engagement with the good food nation agenda to date. Officials acknowledged that some authorities have been more proactive than others and expressed a hope that “the local authorities that have already put in more effort can perhaps provide assistance and guidance to others”.iiRural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee, Official Report, 3 November 2021, col. 19
When the Committee pursued this issue with the Cabinet Secretary, she highlighted that the bill would be “critical” in ensuring local authorities engage with the good food nation plans, arguing that “setting out the framework will enable that to happen and ensure that it takes place”.iiiRural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee, Official Report, 23 February 2022, col. 16
The response from the NHS Board Chief Executives' Group indicated health boards’ support for “the principles and policy intent” of the bill.ivLetter from the NHS Board Chief Executives' Group, dated 10 February 2022, available at: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-rural-affairs-islands-and-natural-environment-committee/correspondence/2022/good-food-nation-scotland-bill_letter-from-nhs-board-chief-executives In their response, however, the NHS Board Chief Executives' Group seemed to be unclear whether the bill would permit their existing mechanisms and plans to be utilised to deliver their good food nation plans.