Policy Matters

Most of the policies concerning local food are considered devolved matters, and legislated for by the Scottish Parliament.

The following links to Scottish Executive documents may be of interest:

Rural Development Programme 2007-13 - The Strategic Plan.

Consultation on this Scottish executive Document is open until 28th March, and gives you the opportunity to comment on the spending priorities for the next Rural Development Fund Programme. To find out more look at the Scottish Executive website.

Hungry for Success

Scottish Executive Project to improve the quality and uptake of school meals. While the promotion of local foods is not integral to the programme, it does provide links to other healthy eating / healthy lifestyle initiatives, and focusses on partnership working. HMI Inspectorate of Education began monitoring the success of implementing the project in Sept 2004. A report of the findings is available from www.hmie.gov.uk/publication.asp or tel 01506 600200

Scottish Diet Action Plan

Published in 1996 the Action Plan sets out a framework in which everyone with an influence on what we eat - from food producers and processors to the NHS, local authorities, schools, caterers, retailers, the media and, of course, consumers themselves - can choose to work together to bring about dietary improvement in Scotland.  The basis of the Plan is a concerted approach, highlighting the steps the various players can voluntarily take to improve diet. It stresses the importance of clear information for consumers, so that they can make informed choices about what they eat. And it describes the steps the food industry and other interests can decide to take to enhance the availability of healthy foods and so provide the people of Scotland with wider choices than many of them have at present. Further information at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library/documents/diet-00.htm

A review of this is underway. For more details visit www.hebs.com/research/news/SDAPreview/PolicyReviewproposalforweb080905.pdf

Second reading of the Childrens Food Bill

This had its second reading at the end of October 2005. The debate was adjourned until next june. To see a transcript of the debate visit www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm051028/debtext/51028-21.htm

Scottish Food and Health Council

The Scottish Food and Health Council has been formed in order to provide leadership and expert advice and to integrate cross-cutting elements of food and health policy and the strategies of the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The Council is comprised of the heads of key policy areas within the Scottish government, the FSA and appointed key experts and stakeholders. The council is normally chaired by the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care. He links directly to the Joint Ministrial Group on Health Improvement. The council will inform the strategic direction of food and health policy and monitor its delivery and the annual action plan.The council has held 3 meetings in 2005. Papers presented at these meetings are available to download. The next meeting of the Council is scheduled for 6 February 2006. For more information see  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health/19133/17905