I am delighted to share that I have lodged my Private Member’s Bill: Right to Food (Scotland) Bill.
The Bill will incorporate the human right to food into Scots law and provide for a body to be responsible for oversight and reporting. Access to food is a human right, but it is currently being denied to too many people in Scotland.
Now more than ever, we need to make the human right to food a reality, enshrined in law. Food poverty is a chronic issue that harms so many people. At a time when the NHS is under real strain; the health, social and economic costs of poor diet is increasing meaning action is already urgent.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the individuals, groups and organisations that have provided valuable feedback and support throughout the consultations in putting together this proposed Bill. Your contributions were vital to help shape this legislation and I appreciate all the effort that has gone in so far. Now that I have lodged the final proposal, there is one month to secure the support of at least 18 other MSPs from two or more parties on the parliamentary bureau. During this month, the Scottish Government can also decide to step in and take on the proposed Bill. If this is taken up, the Government would then have to enact legislation on this in a set timeframe.
My Bill would ensure access to healthy, nutritious food is a human right, underpinned and reinforced by a commitment in law. It is simply wrong that, in Scotland today, children are going hungry, and people are suffering from malnutrition.
Individuals and organisations can contact their MSPs to support the Private Member’s Bill which can be accessed on the Parliament website, here