Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant has reacted to the decision by The Scottish Government to delay the implementation of the National Good Food Nation Plan.

Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 ‘places duties on Scottish Ministers and certain public authorities to produce plans of their policies in relation to food and set out what they will do to make those plans real.’

The Scottish Government have lodged legislation to delay rolling out the National Good Food Nation Plan for six months.

No public statement was made on the delay, with MSPs finding out through an amendment to the bill put forward at the Scottish Parliament’s Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee.

Rhoda Grant MSP said:

“No explanation has been given as to why the plan has been delayed.

“Food poverty is a chronic issue that harms so many people. This delay will lead to more people suffering, more people at risk of malnutrition issues such as obesity, more people at risk to diseases such as rickets, and action to deal with food poverty delayed.

“At a time when the NHS is under real strain; the health, social and economic costs of poor diet is increasing meaning action is already urgent. Yet the Scottish Government are delaying the very actions that target food poverty. Sadly, this Government seems unable to deliver on any of its promises.

“I have asked the Government to explain why they have delayed. Local authorities and health boards need clarity in order to plan how to implement the detail contained in this National Good Food Nation Plan.

“Access to healthy, nutritious food is a human right but this needs to underpinned and reinforced by a commitment in law. That is why my proposed Right to Food Bill would enshrine the human right to food into Scots Law. It would create a legal requirement to ensure everyone has sufficient access to good quality food throughout the country.”

Rhoda Grant’s proposal to incorporate the human right to food into Scots Law was lodged on 2nd September 2021.

When the Good Food Nation Bill was passed in the Scottish Parliament in June 2022, Rural Affairs Secretary in the Scottish Government Mairi Gougeon said:

“The Good Food Nation Bill reinforces our commitment to ensuring that everyone in Scotland has access to healthy, nutritious fare and that businesses and public kitchens commit to producing, selling and serving good food.

“Organisations can play a leading role in this process – looking at how they boost local procurement, cut down food waste and packaging and use in-season produce as well disposing of food waste in an environmentally friendly way.

“In addition, food education can equip school pupils with the key skills they need to cook tasty, nutritious meals using the incredible array of world-class produce we have, and also make informed food choices when they are away from home.

Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022

Commenting in June 2022, Director of Nourish Scotland, and member of the Scottish Food Coalition, Pete Ritchie said:

“The good food nation bill lays the foundation for transforming Scotland’s food system for future generations, with benefits for health, climate, nature, communities and businesses.”

The establishment of a Scottish Food Commission for scrutinising and making recommendations in relation to the progress in achieving the outcomes in the good food nation plans was seen as an important aspect of the Act. It would conduct research; and provide advice to Scottish Ministers and relevant authorities in carrying out their duties under the Act.

Fiona Grahame