The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 5078 contributions
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 3 November 2021
Finlay Carson
We all understand that the food and drink sector of the economy is complex, as are health and social care and other sectors. One of the responses to the consultation suggests that the area is too complex to be assessed only by key performance indicators and that there needs to be a far broader understanding of how the system works and how we can deliver the cultural change that Jim Fairlie mentioned.
How does the Scottish Government intend to oversee how effectively public bodies are performing? How will the Scottish Government expect to be judged on its performance? Will that be through KPIs? Will the Scottish Government oversee public bodies? If so, does that suggest that we need an independent body to oversee the Scottish Government?
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 3 November 2021
Finlay Carson
What do you envisage that that process will be? When you set that out, how did you envisage that local authorities will go through a self-assessment process to ensure that they are fulfilling the desired outcomes?
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 3 November 2021
Finlay Carson
You suggest that local authorities are held to account because of the electoral cycle. How does that apply to health boards?
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 3 November 2021
Finlay Carson
Is there a gap in the bill in relation to how the health authorities will judge or self-assess their responses to the good food nation plans that they put in place?
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 3 November 2021
Finlay Carson
As we have no further questions, I thank Mr Burgess and his team for coming in and answering our questions. It is much appreciated.
11:36 Meeting continued in private until 12:47.Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 3 November 2021
Finlay Carson
There is concern that, as you suggest, the Parliament lacks the ability to scrutinise secondary legislation because it is a take-it-or-leave-it situation. That might be an issue.
I will bring in Rachael Hamilton.
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 3 November 2021
Finlay Carson
The bill requires the Scottish Government to consult on a draft plan. At the risk of going over ground that we have already covered, I note that there is no obligation to consult in making the plan itself. Given that the bill might cover other areas that it does not cover at the moment, and given your previous response, surely it would be sensible to consult as part of the work on the initial plan rather than the draft plan. Moreover, should the bill not contain an obligation on public bodies to consult during the formation of their plans rather than draft plans, to ensure that stakeholders, those with lived experience and organisations that represent older people with malnutrition or children who receive school meals are heard?
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 3 November 2021
Finlay Carson
Thank you. I have a final question. What will private businesses’ involvement be and how will they play their part?
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 3 November 2021
Finlay Carson
Yes.
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 3 November 2021
Finlay Carson
I will move on to questions from Beatrice Wishart shortly, but first Jim Fairlie would like to ask a procedural question.