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Question to the Minister for Rural Affairs
posted on 15/05/2009
Q1 Lorraine Barrett: What is the Minister doing to promote the sourcing of local food in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan?
The Minister for Rural Affairs (Elin Jones): The Welsh Assembly Government delivers schemes to promote the Welsh food and drink industry throughout Wales and beyond. I have recently launched the local sourcing action plan setting out clear actions on the benefits of promoting locally sourced food and drink to all sectors.
Lorraine Barrett: You cannot get more local than growing your own vegetables and fruit in allotments, which are becoming more popular. Could you tell us of any plans that you have to encourage or assist local authorities, community councils or unitary authorities to be more proactive about freeing up their land and offering it to communities to turn it into allotments so that they can grow their own food?
Elin Jones: I agree that growing your own food in an urban environment is becoming increasingly important and of interest to many people. Technically, I do not lead on allotment policy because it is a planning matter for the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing, but I know that she has supported some local authorities to fund allotment development, particularly in Swansea. In my role as the Minister responsible for food production, I increasingly recognise the need to grow food locally. I will discuss with the Minister for the environment how we can progress the Assembly Government’s aspirations to see more food grown locally.
