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I think that some of the plans that are being talked about in relation to public diners and their wider impact are really exciting; they seek to deliver on the outcomes that we have set out in the plan, and I am really interested to see where they go. I hope that we can build on and support the roll-out of some of those initiatives.

You talked about mental health, which is a really important element of the plan. It is one of the areas in the plan where we have identified that we do not have enough data and need to collect more. That will enable us to consider whether to develop indicators and how we can monitor those. We have picked up on areas in the plan in which we need to do more work.

I would say that we focus on the food system and the wider food environment. Changes were made to the plan on the back of specific references to that in the consultation responses.

Of course, as individuals, we all make choices, but the Government needs to make it easier for people to make the right choices. We need to make sure that, as it says in the plan, healthy and nutritious food is easily accessible. We also need to improve the food environment through, for example, restrictions that can be placed on advertising. All of the different policies that are being worked on across the piece contribute to improvements in the food system.

We want to make it as easy as possible for people to make the right choices. We have a good food environment in Scotland and a good food culture here as well.

I heard some of that directly myself in the engagement that I undertook during preparation for the plan. I spoke to catering teams to outline our vision for a good food nation in Scotland and the critical role that they will play in that and officials have undertaken that work, too. I hope that speaking to people directly and involving them in the conversation will show them how that has helped to shape what we have brought forward and will mean that we have outcomes that everyone feels they can be part of and can be serious about delivering.

You raise two really important points, particularly the one about venison. I will touch on one scheme. We have worked with the Soil Association, which provides the food for life served here scheme, which 16 Scottish local authorities have signed up to. The Soil Association is working closely with Argyll and Bute Council and Wild Jura to get a supply of venison into the school estate. That is really positive and I hope that other areas can learn from it. The scheme is not only about schools and local authorities. It has been looking at the care sector and universities and is branching out to support local supply chains, because we know the benefits that come from doing so.

It is important to highlight measures that will be taken forward through the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill. Parliament has had extensive discussion of and questions about community larders for venison. We have that healthy source of protein right on our doorstep and must ensure that more people in Scotland have access to it.

You asked about support for the wider supply chain, which is absolutely critical. If we want to have strong local supply chains we must ensure that the infrastructure for those is there. We have a small producers pilot scheme at the moment. Farmers and crofters in some of our most rural areas are particularly dependent on smaller abattoirs. We have provided funding for Dingwall, Mull, the mart in Orkney and Shetland to try to better co-ordinate those services so that they are fully utilised and well supported, because we know that supporting the work of the wider supply chain is hugely important, as you have rightly highlighted.

You are absolutely right: that is critical. If there is a sense that there is not enough in relation to that, we are more than happy to consider it. That is why the views on that are so important, especially if it is felt that they could be better reflected.

One thing that that highlights to me is the role of the specified functions and descriptions that we have set out in the legislation. The fact that ministers have to have regard to the plan when we are exercising specific functions and following policy is really important. The policy is still to be brought forward by regulation, so the detail is not there just yet. Taking breastfeeding as an example, when we are developing plans or strategies, we have to consider the good food nation plan and delivery of the outcomes in relation to that, as it is how we will deliver on what we have set out in the plan and the legislation. I am more than happy to consider whether that needs to be more clearly drawn out.

They could also feature as part of the outcomes for the local authority plans when those are being developed. We want to roll out free school meal provision, but we do not have the finances to be able to roll that out fully at the moment, which is why it is being rolled out in the phases that have been proposed. Currently, the indicators that we have in the plan consider free school meal uptake, but we must consider how that would work in relation to the local authority plans that will be developed and think about the potential outcomes in that regard. Any extra data that we could gather from that that would then inform the overall national outcomes and indicators would be helpful.

Do you mean how do we define it in relation to the one health approach? I know that, in some of the evidence, people felt that there was not a focus on the one health approach in the plan, but I think that what we have set out in the plan aims to ultimately deliver on what that is, which involves animal health and welfare, a healthy environment and our overall health and wellbeing.

I feel that what we have articulated in the plan is probably in the right area but, again, if you have any particular recommendations or suggestions for things that we should be looking at, I am happy to hear them.

Again, if you feel that that is not properly articulated, I am happy to hear suggestions from the committee. I completely appreciate the points that you have raised about the importance of having a healthy balanced diet and, with regard to what that looks like, we point to the “Eatwell Guide”.

FSS has also done a lot of work in this area, which highlights that some people are consuming more than the recommended red meat intake while younger people in particular are not getting enough of the nutrients that they need. Again, we need to promote the healthy balanced diet that we all want people to have.

Yes; that is a good point. That is why we have supported what I think is called extra time—I stand to be corrected if that is wrong—which is exactly about what you have said about drawing people into an activity and providing food while they are there. We have provided around £5.5 million to the breakfast clubs to support exactly that. We have also extended that and provided a further £3 million funding to extend the reach of breakfast clubs to about 20,000 more young people.

Of course, as we were saying when we were talking about free school meals, rolling that out universally comes at a huge financial cost, so targeting it and rolling it out in the way that we have, through free school meals, breakfast clubs, and activity-related food provision, is really important. What you have said is absolutely right.

Absolutely.