Access to food is a human right denied to too many, says Highland MSP Rhoda Grant
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has described access to food as a human right that is denied to too many people in the UK.
She was speaking after lodging a motion to raise awareness of Monday's #RightToFood National Day of Action.
The day of action was developed by Labour MP Ian Byrne and Fans Supporting Foodbanks and it calls for the right to food to be enshrined into law. The move is backed by a range of trade unions, faith groups, third sector organisations, businesses and community groups.
“Access to food is a human right but it is being denied to too many people in our country," Mrs Grant said. "The pandemic has only exacerbated this and increased the need for action to be taken to address the problems in our food sector.
"That anyone is living in food poverty in 2021, in one if the richest nations in the world, is shocking.
“I intend to bring forward a bill this session to enshrine the right to food into Scots law. This is the work started by my colleague Elaine Smith in the last session, and it is vital we finish it.
“Enshrining the right to food into Scots law would place responsibility for realising and progressing this right upon the Scottish Government, including the ability to hold them to account.
“The right to food is also tied up with a stronger food policy overall. It is not just access to food we need, but access to affordable, healthy, quality food.
“I commend Ian Byrne MP and the other supporters of the National Day of Action for their campaigning work, and call on my MSP colleagues to back the call to action, support my proposed bill once it is lodged and sign the motion.”