"Good food nation" plans need good oversight, MSPs say
Effective oversight is essential to achieving the Scottish Government's "good food nation" ambitions, according Holyrood’s Rural Affairs Committee, in its report on the bill to give effect to the scheme.
The Good Food Nation (Scotland) Bill seeks to improve the quality of food available to people in Scotland by requiring Scottish ministers, local authorities and health boards to create Good Food Nation plans, to which they must then have regard when carrying out certain functions.
In its stage 1 report on the bill, the committee, which is leading the scrutiny of the bill, agrees with its general principles but says that parliamentary approval should be required for the national plan ministers are required to create, rather than the plan simply being laid before the Parliament. This would give the Parliament its place in the good food nation plan process and provide parliamentary accountability of the Government in achieving its aims.
The committee also believes that there is a need for an oversight body, provided for in the bill, to oversee the implementation of the bill, but notes that there are "significantly differing views" about what this function should look like. It is concerned that the Government's consideration of this matter is still at an early stage, and "believes further information, and reassurance, about an oversight function is essential".
While some have called for the right to food to be incorporated into this bill, the MSPs recognise that human rights legislation is the best vehicle to provide for this right. However they call for the bill to align closely to the proposed right to food, and for further information about the timescale for the proposed human rights legislation.
Other recommendations in the report include:
- that high level objectives which reflect the broad vision and ambitions for the good food nation policy be included in the bill;
- that consultation undertaken by either ministers or local authorities on draft good food plans must be as wide, inclusive and participatory as possible;
- that the Government ensures that relevant authorities have access to information and advice to support the development of their plans.
The report also asks the Scottish Government to provide a financial statement which lays out the costs that are likely to fall to relevant authorities in relation to the creation, development and implementation of good food nation plans and how this will be resourced, a matter on which authorities expressed considerable concern when giving evidence.
Committee convener Finlay Carson MSP commented: "Without increased oversight of the Scottish Government’s good food nation policy and plan, it is impossible for us to reassure stakeholders that the wide ranging concerns they expressed during evidence sessions, particularly in relation to resource, policy cohesion, the link between national and local plans and targets and outcomes, will be addressed.
"We accept that this is a framework bill, but strengthened oversight throughout the planning process will be key to the success of our ambition for a food system that works for the people of Scotland."