Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith) Lab

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-11826, in the name of Maureen Watt, on the Food (Scotland) Bill. 14:52

The Minister for Public Health (Maureen Watt) SNP

I am pleased to open the stage 3 debate on the Food (Scotland) Bill. Interruption.

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Order, please. There is far too much noise. We cannot hear the minister.

Maureen Watt SNP

I thank the Health and Sport Committee for its consideration of the bill and for its careful handling of the bill at stage 2, as well as the Delegated Powers...

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab

We have had a Food Standards Agency since 1999, but as part of a United Kingdom agency. The agency has been a success and has acted on its own initiative, fo...

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

The Food (Scotland) Bill was welcomed by most of the people who responded to the Health and Sport Committee’s call for evidence, and the relatively few amend...

Maureen Watt SNP

The memorandum of understanding with the UK FSA and the European FSA is being prepared. It will be one of the first things that the new board will sign off.

Nanette Milne Con

I look forward to hearing about that in due course. I would also welcome a progress report on the Scottish Government’s monitoring of the food hygiene infor...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

We come to the open debate. Speeches should be of four minutes please. I call Christian Allard, to be followed by Claire Baker. 15:15

Christian Allard (North East Scotland) (SNP) SNP

I am delighted to speak today at the last stage of the very welcome Food (Scotland) Bill. I first put on record my sincere congratulations to our new Minist...

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab

I am pleased to make a contribution to the debate. The Parliament recently held a food and drink debate. There is a growing recognition that the public heal...

Christian Allard SNP

Will the member give way?

Claire Baker Lab

I am very tight for time. Are people clear about what a balanced diet means? A focus on fad diets, even by the First Minister, does not change long-term hab...

Colin Keir (Edinburgh Western) (SNP) SNP

I thank my fellow Health and Sport Committee members for making this such an enjoyable and interesting piece of legislation to work on. After what I migh...

Jackson Carlaw (West Scotland) (Con) Con

I was at my local bakery a couple of weeks ago; Mrs Carlaw and I are quite partial to its potato scones. Other, inferior, potato scones are no doubt availabl...

Maureen Watt SNP

Would Jackson Carlaw like to give way?

Jackson Carlaw Con

I will—as long as it is not about an alternative brand of potato scone.

Maureen Watt SNP

Absolutely not. I am sure that Jackson Carlaw would like to take the opportunity to disassociate himself from the comments of his Westminster colleague who s...

Jackson Carlaw Con

Naturally, I would: the Mary Berry skills of the average Scot are exemplary. I must say that the announcement of Ross Finnie’s appointment had passed me by—...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

I note that Nanette Milne is missing from the chamber. I respectfully remind members that if they participate in a debate, they should be here for the closin...

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab

I thank committee members, and the committee clerks and support staff, for their help in working through the bill in the Health and Sport Committee. I also t...

Maureen Watt SNP

I reassure Rhoda Grant that one of the functions of food standards Scotland will be to provide training to gear up people in local authorities so that they c...

Rhoda Grant Lab

I am grateful for that reassurance. I will turn quickly to the public health role of FSS, which was touched on by Claire Baker. It is important that it will...

Maureen Watt SNP

I thank members for their contributions. I welcome the breadth of support that the bill has received through all its parliamentary stages and the constructiv...