Written question WQ99461

Welsh Government is committed to strengthening opportunities for Welsh food producers and increasing the use of locally sourced food across the public sector through procurement policy, guidance and support, while ensuring compliance with procurement legislation.

Responsibility for procuring food for schools, hospitals and other public services is generally devolved to individual contracting authorities, including local authorities and NHS bodies, which make purchasing decisions in accordance with procurement legislation and their local requirements.

Welsh Government supports these organisations through procurement policy, guidance and the Community Food Strategy to increase opportunities for Welsh producers, strengthen local supply chains and retain more economic value within Wales. For example, Caerphilly Council applied Welsh Government’s food procurement guidance to embed Foundational Economy principles in their south Wales food framework which resulted in Castell Howell winning 100 out of 150 lots.