, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Well, it's a goal, which will require—hence the need for the Bill—a strategy to deliver against that. And if I hadn't have had food goals there, then I would be challenged, 'Well, how are you aiming to deliver that primary food goal if you haven't got the…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
I think the primary food—. We mustn't argue there's a lot of focus, often, on the secondary goals. The secondary goals are there to deliver against the primary food goal, which you could argue is a strategy. It hasn't been defined in exact detail, but, 'The…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
The secondary food goals are fundamental component parts, because through their breakdown and their indication, they create the blocks that need to have targets put alongside them to achieve the overarching food goal. There are many different interpretations…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Absolutely.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
As a designated Member for the co-operation agreement. So, Cefin joined us on the third occasion. Again, the Minister wanted to understand further, and this is where we referred a little bit to the proposal for a community food strategy. What we learnt at…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Yes.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Yes, and then we had—
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
And Lesley was trying to understand a little bit more about what we were trying to do, but expressed her main sticking concerns were with the idea of a commission. That was a problem for her. I'm not sure if Cefin Campbell was in on that meeting, or was it…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
First of all, I'll start by saying I have nothing but compliments for the way the Commission wrapped a team around me as a backbencher to develop this, as you can see, and they've done a fantastic job. Engagement opportunities with the Minister for this have…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Could I bring Tyler in to supplement this?
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Thank you, Pered. Can I revert to Sam?
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
I would certainly love to see a community food strategy, because there isn't one yet; it hasn't been developed. The Minister has made it clear at ETRA that she has £1.8 million put aside ready to implement it. However, with her limited capacity of staff, and…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Absolutely, yes. We're very clear that that is the case and obviously, the Llywydd has also made that recognition as well. So, we believe we're totally right.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
I'm sure that it won't be unheard of where a new set of regulations impact on existing legislation. There may need to be reflections in that legislation, via whatever process is necessary, to align them. But that's just the nature of the beast, isn't it?
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Can I bring Aled in on that?
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
No. I think it's trying to simplify and give purpose to the current framework, which is disjointed and inconsistent and not joined up. What we're trying to do, from my perspective, is actually to join that up. And another point was made in the Economy, Trade…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Well, you've obviously got the Agriculture Act 2020, you've got the sustainable farming scheme, which is coming in to align with that, you've got the environmental Bill, you've got the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Bill, you've got various…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
I would argue that this is relatively discrete. It gives so much power to other people in the legislature to shape it, but it creates a framework, which is sadly lacking at the moment.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
No, but it would assume that if you're doing something very small that that's about matters where you're going to get—
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
With respect, pretty much, that's what we're putting forward, isn't it, with the addition of a commission, the overarching principle of a food strategy, designed by the Government, in consultation with the commission. That's a very straightforward, quite…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
So, where is there a current legislation or strategy or a joined-up approach across the Government that actually takes food from the ground to our children's mouths and into our health system and to address those societal issues linked with health and…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Absolutely. Absolutely it has a focus: to make sure that we actually have a joined-up approach in Wales to food security and how we use food. The reality is, you're talking about could we be specific about just food production. Now, food production is a big…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
That's an interesting provocation, because I would argue that the legislation, as we put it, is relatively simple and it hasn't changed much. In fact, it's reduced slightly. We may have added things like—
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Keep voting, Alun.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Food (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Indeed. If I may, Chair, I met with the outgoing commissioner only last week at an event, and I talked about how we were progressing and she wishes this well. And I suggested there had been—. I said, 'A few have suggested that this is something your area…
