Guide to Responding to Right to Food ConsultationScroll down and read through our guide - it includes explanations of the questions and some ideas for what to include in your response. Your response will be more powerful if you include your own words and experiences, but you can use our words if you would prefer to. The consultation has 11 questions - you do not need to respond to all of them, you can just respond to one question if you would like to, but policy-makers want to hear your opinion on as many of the questions as possible. HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR RESPONSE All responses should be received no later than 16 February 2022. The preferred way of responding is through the online portal, called smart survey. Smart survey is accessible at this link: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/RightToFood2/ You can also submit your response as a word document attachment to this email address: [email protected] |
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CONSULTATION QUESTIONS
1. Which of the following best expresses your view of the proposal to incorporate the right to food into Scots law? (Partially supportive, Neutral, Partially opposed, Fully opposed, Unsure)
1. Which of the following best expresses your view of the proposal to incorporate the right to food into Scots law? (Partially supportive, Neutral, Partially opposed, Fully opposed, Unsure)
How you might want to answer:
Fully supportive
The government has a duty to make sure everyone can afford and enjoy a healthy and sustainable diet, the people producing the food have safe working conditions and receive a fair wage, and food is produced in a way that respects animals and the environment. Putting the right to food into Scots law would make it more likely that the Scottish Government prioritises wellbeing of people & environment in decisions on the food system.
Fully supportive
The government has a duty to make sure everyone can afford and enjoy a healthy and sustainable diet, the people producing the food have safe working conditions and receive a fair wage, and food is produced in a way that respects animals and the environment. Putting the right to food into Scots law would make it more likely that the Scottish Government prioritises wellbeing of people & environment in decisions on the food system.
2. Do you think legislation is required, or are there other ways in which the Bill’s aims could be achieved more effectively? Please explain the reasons for your response.
How you might want to answer:
Legislation is required. It helps to maintain progress and prevent going backwards. Delivering on the commitments laid down by legislation will be the same no matter which political party is in power, or if Ministers and Scottish Government officials change. Legislation can help to establish the core purpose of the food system in law, track progress across the whole food system and hold the Government to account if they are not delivering the right to food.
Legislation is required. It helps to maintain progress and prevent going backwards. Delivering on the commitments laid down by legislation will be the same no matter which political party is in power, or if Ministers and Scottish Government officials change. Legislation can help to establish the core purpose of the food system in law, track progress across the whole food system and hold the Government to account if they are not delivering the right to food.
3. Which of the following best expresses your view on an independent statutory body being given responsibility for overseeing and reporting on progress towards realising the right to food?
Click here to find out what the question is about
The question is asking your view on the creation of an independent statutory body. An independent statutory body is a group of experts and representatives from across the food system, who are not part of the Government. The body would representation of people whose right to food is most at risk. The body would have the power to review and report on the actions the government has taken to deliver on the right to food. The body would be a way of holding the government to account and demand progress on managing the food system – particularly if the government is not doing a good job.
How you might want to answer:
Fully supportive
The food system is complicated and made up of many parts of Government, as well as individuals and companies. Everyone involved in the food system has different goals and priorities, and at the moment, we do not have a good picture of how well the problems facing the food system are being tackled. An independent statutory body would recognise that food insecurity, climate change, public health, biodiversity, workers’ rights, animal welfare, access to land, and waste are all part of the food system and that a systems-wide approach is essential to protecting everyone’s right to food and making sure the Government keeps its promises.
We need an independent organisation which is not the Government to review and question the Government’s plans, provide guidance, gather evidence, and report on how well the Government is delivering on its duties. It is important that the Government is held to account over its obligations and an independent statutory body is an important part of ensuring this happens.
Fully supportive
The food system is complicated and made up of many parts of Government, as well as individuals and companies. Everyone involved in the food system has different goals and priorities, and at the moment, we do not have a good picture of how well the problems facing the food system are being tackled. An independent statutory body would recognise that food insecurity, climate change, public health, biodiversity, workers’ rights, animal welfare, access to land, and waste are all part of the food system and that a systems-wide approach is essential to protecting everyone’s right to food and making sure the Government keeps its promises.
We need an independent organisation which is not the Government to review and question the Government’s plans, provide guidance, gather evidence, and report on how well the Government is delivering on its duties. It is important that the Government is held to account over its obligations and an independent statutory body is an important part of ensuring this happens.
4. Should an independent body be given responsibility for overseeing and reporting on the right to food, do you think it should be:
a. A newly created body
b. An existing body (if so, please state which body in the comment box)
c. Either option
a. A newly created body
b. An existing body (if so, please state which body in the comment box)
c. Either option
How you might want to answer:
a. A newly created body
The challenges facing the food system have not yet been adequately addressed by any existing body, and we have seen many of these issues worsening. Rather than adding additional responsibilities to an existing body that has an established agenda and staff already committed to delivering a specific work plan, it is necessary to establish a newly created body. This body's sole focus is on taking ‘food systems’ approach, recognising the need for joined-up policy across departments and between local and national government. This body could:
a. A newly created body
The challenges facing the food system have not yet been adequately addressed by any existing body, and we have seen many of these issues worsening. Rather than adding additional responsibilities to an existing body that has an established agenda and staff already committed to delivering a specific work plan, it is necessary to establish a newly created body. This body's sole focus is on taking ‘food systems’ approach, recognising the need for joined-up policy across departments and between local and national government. This body could:
- Undertake research and make recommendations
- Report on the state of Scotland’s food system and progress made on realising the right to food
- Facilitate and support partnership working to drive food systems change
- Enable people across Scotland to input into plans that will shape their food system
5. Which of the following best expresses your view of enshrining a right to food into Scots law as a priority in advance of, and in a manner which is compatible with, any further Scottish Government legislation on wider human rights? (Partially supportive, Neutral, Partially opposed, Fully opposed, Unsure)
Click here to find out what the question is about
The Scottish Government has promised that it will put other human rights, such as the right to housing or the right to work, into Scots law. The question is asking how supportive you are of putting the right to food into Scots law by itself, or waiting for it to go into law as part of this bigger commitment.
How you might want to answer:
Fully supportive
It is encouraging that the Scottish Government has made a wider commitment to human rights in the future. However, we do not know when this will happen. There is also a concern that the right to food, which has been overlooked in the past, will continue to be overlooked if made part of a bigger package of rights. The challenges facing the food system are urgent, and the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed and worsened many of these challenges. It is essential that right to food is put into Scots law as a priority, so the Scottish Government puts the wellbeing of people and the planet at the heart of its plans for recovery of the food system.
Fully supportive
It is encouraging that the Scottish Government has made a wider commitment to human rights in the future. However, we do not know when this will happen. There is also a concern that the right to food, which has been overlooked in the past, will continue to be overlooked if made part of a bigger package of rights. The challenges facing the food system are urgent, and the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed and worsened many of these challenges. It is essential that right to food is put into Scots law as a priority, so the Scottish Government puts the wellbeing of people and the planet at the heart of its plans for recovery of the food system.
6. Which of the following best describes your view of placing responsibility for guaranteeing the right to food on the Scottish Government? (Fully supportive, Partially supportive, Neutral, Partially opposed, Fully opposed, Unsure)
Click here to find out what the question is about
This question is asking your view on the Scottish Government being responsible for making sure everyone in Scotland enjoys their right to food. In other words, do you believe it should be the Government’s job to tackle the problems facing the food system and to ensure that people have the right to food.
How you might want to answer:
Fully Supportive
The right to food recognises that it is the Government that has the responsibility to deliver the right to food for everyone in Scotland. Charities have been filling the gaps left by Government when it comes to addressing the growing levels of food insecurity; this has led to more reliance on food banks. Workers in the food sector suffer high levels of job insecurity and poor wages. The way we produce food is harmful to animals and the environment.
The right to food recognises that these problems are Government failures as it is their responsibility to ensure everyone has enough money to afford nutritious food, through fair wages or adequate benefits, and our food system promotes the wellbeing of people, animals and our environment.
Fully Supportive
The right to food recognises that it is the Government that has the responsibility to deliver the right to food for everyone in Scotland. Charities have been filling the gaps left by Government when it comes to addressing the growing levels of food insecurity; this has led to more reliance on food banks. Workers in the food sector suffer high levels of job insecurity and poor wages. The way we produce food is harmful to animals and the environment.
The right to food recognises that these problems are Government failures as it is their responsibility to ensure everyone has enough money to afford nutritious food, through fair wages or adequate benefits, and our food system promotes the wellbeing of people, animals and our environment.
7. What impact do you consider the effects of, and response to, the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the need for a right to food to be incorporated into Scots law?
How you might want to answer:
Significant impact
The pandemic has exacerbated some of the challenges that have long plagued the food system. Long and complex supply chains have weakened Scotland’s resilience, and left the country vulnerable to disruptions in global supply. Scotland is dependent on imports such as fertiliser and animal feeds. In the meantime, producing food for export has been given precedence over producing food to eat. Local food chains are limited. Jobs in this sector remain amongst the least well paid and the most precarious.
The current crisis has exposed the vulnerability of these individuals - and the families who depend on their wages - with hundreds of thousands facing job losses, low levels of statutory sick pay and unfair compensation. Relatedly, there has been a significant rise in demand for food banks. Poor diet, and dietary inequalities, are a major cause of ill health in Scotland. Obesity has been found to be a risk factor in COVID-19 severity and outcomes - there is an increased need to address the unhealthy food environment we currently live in.
The right to food makes it clear that it is the Government’s responsibility to ensure that everyone can access food that is of good quality, nutritious, safe to eat and available with dignity.
Significant impact
The pandemic has exacerbated some of the challenges that have long plagued the food system. Long and complex supply chains have weakened Scotland’s resilience, and left the country vulnerable to disruptions in global supply. Scotland is dependent on imports such as fertiliser and animal feeds. In the meantime, producing food for export has been given precedence over producing food to eat. Local food chains are limited. Jobs in this sector remain amongst the least well paid and the most precarious.
The current crisis has exposed the vulnerability of these individuals - and the families who depend on their wages - with hundreds of thousands facing job losses, low levels of statutory sick pay and unfair compensation. Relatedly, there has been a significant rise in demand for food banks. Poor diet, and dietary inequalities, are a major cause of ill health in Scotland. Obesity has been found to be a risk factor in COVID-19 severity and outcomes - there is an increased need to address the unhealthy food environment we currently live in.
The right to food makes it clear that it is the Government’s responsibility to ensure that everyone can access food that is of good quality, nutritious, safe to eat and available with dignity.
- Charities and food banks should not be responsible for dealing with these issues. Putting the right to food into Scots law will ensure more Government resources go towards finding better alternatives to addressing food insecurity than charity and food banks, for example, ensuring a compassionate benefits system which enables people to eat well and access food with dignity. It is important that we have more than words on paper; putting the right to food into law will not end food banks overnight, and we need additional measures like an independent statutory body to monitor the Government’s plans and decisions and make sure that it is taking appropriate actions.
- Putting the right to food into law will ensure the Government acts to change the food system so that it promotes better public health – both physically and mentally. Fairer wages, more secure employment and adequate social security benefits will mean that people are better able to afford nutritious food for them and their families. This will likely have a positive impact on mental health as stress, anxiety and depression associated with financial worries will lessen. Diet-related illnesses are a longstanding issue and enshrining the right to food into Scots law will ensure that policy and law makers treat the food system as a health priority.
8. Taking into account all those likely to be affected (including public sector bodies, businesses and individuals etc.) is the proposed Bill likely to lead to:
How you might want to answer:
It will cost the Government and the public-sector some money to make the necessary changes as it is underinvestment which has led to the failings we have long seen in our food system. For example, establishing an independent statutory body will be an investment. Currently, diet-related illnesses place huge avoidable costs on our health service, ensuring the food system improves public health will put less strain on the NHS.
Businesses may have some increases in cost due to pay raises for staff whose wages are too low to afford nutritious food for them and their families. However, there are also savings for businesses by changing these unfair practices. For example, there are likely to be fewer sick-days for staff who are mentally and physically healthier. A healthier workforce will be a more productive workforce and this will benefit the businesses. The food sector has struggled with job retention, but better conditions and fairer wages will attract more people into the sector providing more financial stability for businesses.
However, individuals that are unable to afford nutritious food for themselves and their families will see a reduction to their costs. Putting the right to food into law will place the responsibility on the Government to ensure everyone can afford nutritious food, for example, through fair wages or adequate benefits. Though this is not about making food cheaper; it is about making sure everyone in Scotland can access healthy food with dignity. So, individuals and families would see a reduction in their costs relative to their income.
The purpose of the Bill is long term investment in the food system. This requires ambition and big changes across the whole food system. The focus of any Bill on the right to food should be about strong social security, fair employment, protecting animals and the planet, and improving people’s lives. This is worth our investment.
It will cost the Government and the public-sector some money to make the necessary changes as it is underinvestment which has led to the failings we have long seen in our food system. For example, establishing an independent statutory body will be an investment. Currently, diet-related illnesses place huge avoidable costs on our health service, ensuring the food system improves public health will put less strain on the NHS.
Businesses may have some increases in cost due to pay raises for staff whose wages are too low to afford nutritious food for them and their families. However, there are also savings for businesses by changing these unfair practices. For example, there are likely to be fewer sick-days for staff who are mentally and physically healthier. A healthier workforce will be a more productive workforce and this will benefit the businesses. The food sector has struggled with job retention, but better conditions and fairer wages will attract more people into the sector providing more financial stability for businesses.
However, individuals that are unable to afford nutritious food for themselves and their families will see a reduction to their costs. Putting the right to food into law will place the responsibility on the Government to ensure everyone can afford nutritious food, for example, through fair wages or adequate benefits. Though this is not about making food cheaper; it is about making sure everyone in Scotland can access healthy food with dignity. So, individuals and families would see a reduction in their costs relative to their income.
The purpose of the Bill is long term investment in the food system. This requires ambition and big changes across the whole food system. The focus of any Bill on the right to food should be about strong social security, fair employment, protecting animals and the planet, and improving people’s lives. This is worth our investment.
9. What overall impact is the proposed Bill likely to have on equality, taking account of the following protected characteristics (under the Equality Act 2010): age, disability, gender re-assignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation?
How you might want to answer:
Positive
The right to food is about improving the food system for the benefit of everyone in Scotland. Equality is at the heart of the right to food. We know that certain groups in society are more vulnerable to things like unfair employment practices, low wages or reliance on inadequate social security benefits. Improving these issues will have a positive impact on vulnerable people that suffer the most from these inequalities.
Positive
The right to food is about improving the food system for the benefit of everyone in Scotland. Equality is at the heart of the right to food. We know that certain groups in society are more vulnerable to things like unfair employment practices, low wages or reliance on inadequate social security benefits. Improving these issues will have a positive impact on vulnerable people that suffer the most from these inequalities.
10. In terms of assessing the proposed Bill’s potential impact on sustainable development, you may wish to consider how it relates to the following principles:
a. Living within environmental limits
b. Ensuring a strong, healthy and just society
c. Achieving a sustainable economy
d. Promoting effective, participative systems of governance
e. Ensuring policy is developed on the basis of strong scientific evidence
With these principles in mind, do you consider that the Bill can be delivered sustainably?
a. Living within environmental limits
b. Ensuring a strong, healthy and just society
c. Achieving a sustainable economy
d. Promoting effective, participative systems of governance
e. Ensuring policy is developed on the basis of strong scientific evidence
With these principles in mind, do you consider that the Bill can be delivered sustainably?
How you might want to answer:
The impact of the bill will have positive sustainable development. Making farming and fishing less wasteful and less polluting will have a positive environmental impact. Improving wages and social security so that individuals and families can afford a healthy diet will have a positive social impact. And improving business employment practices may come at an initial cost increase, but the benefit of job retention, a healthier workforce, and better public perception of those businesses should have a long term positive economic impact. This Bill's proposal to establish a body to oversee the food system could enable people across Scotland to input into plans that will shape their food system, and ensure that policy is developed on the basis of evidence.
The impact of the bill will have positive sustainable development. Making farming and fishing less wasteful and less polluting will have a positive environmental impact. Improving wages and social security so that individuals and families can afford a healthy diet will have a positive social impact. And improving business employment practices may come at an initial cost increase, but the benefit of job retention, a healthier workforce, and better public perception of those businesses should have a long term positive economic impact. This Bill's proposal to establish a body to oversee the food system could enable people across Scotland to input into plans that will shape their food system, and ensure that policy is developed on the basis of evidence.
11. Do you have any other additional comments or suggestions on the proposed Bill (which have not already been covered in any of your responses to earlier questions)?
How you might want to answer: (this is a good place to put in your personal experiences of the food system)
Every opportunity should be taken to progress the right to food in law, so that we, as a country, move closer towards making it a reality for everyone. Currently the Scottish Parliament are considering the Good Food Nation Bill - a new law which can change our food system by working across the whole food supply chain and looking after people and the planet. As the Good Food Nation Bill should clearly state that its purpose is to deliver the right to food - so human rights are at the centre of our food system.
Every opportunity should be taken to progress the right to food in law, so that we, as a country, move closer towards making it a reality for everyone. Currently the Scottish Parliament are considering the Good Food Nation Bill - a new law which can change our food system by working across the whole food supply chain and looking after people and the planet. As the Good Food Nation Bill should clearly state that its purpose is to deliver the right to food - so human rights are at the centre of our food system.