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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 12 March 2025
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Displaying 2045 contributions

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Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Good Food Nation (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 23 February 2022

Jim Fairlie

As you have pointed out, cabinet secretary, there is, in all the vast amounts of evidence that we have taken, no fixed view on whether there should be an oversight board. In fact, views are very much mixed. On 3 November, George Burgess said that the Government could look at the matter again, and you have just committed to doing that in light of the Bute house agreement. However, would it not be preferable for Parliament to be the scrutinising body instead of—dare I say it?—an unelected quango that would be established at huge cost to the public purse to have oversight of something so fundamental to Scotland’s future good food plans?

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Good Food Nation (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 23 February 2022

Jim Fairlie

I take the point about flexibility, but I emphasise the fact that we have to get local authorities to implement the measure.

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Good Food Nation (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 23 February 2022

Jim Fairlie

I would have thought that, given the bill’s breadth and scope, any body that was set up would have to be a substantial one. Surely we already have mechanisms in place to carry out that function.

10:30  

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Good Food Nation (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 23 February 2022

Jim Fairlie

You have committed to doing that.

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Good Food Nation (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 23 February 2022

Jim Fairlie

That is the important bit.

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Good Food Nation (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 23 February 2022

Jim Fairlie

In the past, local authorities have been given funding and they have used it exactly how they would want it to be used. East Ayrshire is the most obvious example, but I had better not forget my colleague Jenni Minto’s Argyll: she is very proud of the fact that Argyll and Bute Council is doing so well. Will the Government provide something that says how the plans need to be set out? Public authorities have been given money before and have not done it, so how do we ensure that they do it this time and make it happen?

We heard in evidence that it will be far harder for people in Glasgow to set out a plan that will get them up to standard than it will be for people somewhere such as rural Perthshire. I presume that the Government will have some way of saying what it requires authorities to do. Is that correct?

09:45  

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Good Food Nation (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 23 February 2022

Jim Fairlie

I have a wee follow-up question. I do not entirely agree with what my colleague Rachael Hamilton said about some areas that are not achieving the highest standards not necessarily having access to provisions to be able to do that. Some cities have slaughterhouses and processing facilities on their doorstep, but they are not connected. In Highland Perthshire, lamb went into school meals collaboratively, through the local networks. We are fortunate to have that approach close at hand. There are other local authorities, which we spoke about earlier on, that are doing a good job.

Given that there are local authorities that are not fully engaged with the process at the moment, is there any value in asking the likes of COSLA to bring all the local authorities together and say, “This is where everybody is”? Local authorities—or most of them, at least—will know where they are. Is there an opportunity for them to come together, say, “I know where you are—this is how we got to where we are” and work collaboratively as a national organisation with one shared goal?

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Good Food Nation (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 23 February 2022

Jim Fairlie

The bill uses the phrase “specified function” in sections 4 and 10. Can you give any examples of the specified functions that the Government expects to set out in secondary legislation?

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Good Food Nation (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 23 February 2022

Jim Fairlie

That was absolutely fine. So, it is being worked on as things move along.

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Good Food Nation (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 23 February 2022

Jim Fairlie

That is excellent. Thank you.