8. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the role of the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 in promoting a healthier diet. (S6O-02203)

The ministerial working group on food provides a forum for me and my ministerial colleagues to come together and work across portfolios on relevant aspects of food policy as we work towards our ambition of Scotland becoming a good food nation. At our last meeting, on 12 January, the group covered issues relating to the promotion of a healthier diet. I look forward to continuing to discuss the next steps in relation to the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 with my colleagues.

Partick farmers market, in my constituency of Glasgow Kelvin, brings into the heart of Glasgow’s west end fresh food produce straight from the producers. Does the minister agree that such good models play an important role in educating people about the food that they eat, promoting healthier lifestyles and supporting farmers and food producers?

I could not agree more. Farmers markets play an important role in supporting our farmers and producers and our local communities and economies. They also do so much more, because if we support such initiatives, we also shorten supply chains, connecting people to our food and where it comes from, as well as helping to promote healthier diets. Through our local food strategy, we recognise the importance of connecting people with their food and where it comes from as well as better connecting Scottish producers with their buyers. All of that plays a vital role in our vision of Scotland being a good food nation.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

A brief supplementary, please, Mr Whittle.

The cabinet secretary will be aware that, for all the time that I have been here, I have been pushing the role of public procurement in schools and hospitals. Does the cabinet secretary now agree with the Conservative position that we should be pushing public procurement as much as possible to buy local food to increase the health of the nation?

I do not think that we have ever really disagreed with that point. I know that

Brian Whittle has raised the issue with me on a number of occasions. It is important that we look to address that through the good food nation plans that will be developed, as there will be a critical role for them.

I would also point to some of the other work that we are looking at. The Food for Life programme has been working with our local authorities to increase the supply of local produce to our schools, in particular. We can see the benefits for health and for our local communities and economies of taking such an approach. That is why we decided to extend the pilot to look at other areas of the public sector in which we could make that approach work, with a particular focus on Glasgow. Ideally, we would like that approach to be expanded across Scotland.

I look forward to working with the member on that, and I am more than happy to have a conversation about how such work can feature in our future good food nation plans.