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Yes, I believe that we have an alternative way to do it, and that is what we have set out in relation to the carbon budgets.

It is a case of improving the overall food environment. The initiatives that are under way through the plan feed into those outcomes. Through our go local programme, which is about supporting smaller convenience stores, we want to provide access to local products, including healthier products, and to support people to make the right choices in that respect. Work will be taken forward through the population health strategy, the diet and healthy weight implementation plan and some of the other initiatives that we have talked about, which will all contribute to creating the better food environment that we want to see.

Absolutely. That would be my hope. We have so many strong examples of good work happening across Scotland, and we really want to build on them and not see them recede or go in the opposite direction. I am really keen for this to head in that direction.

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 certainly hope so. I hope that the development of the proposed national plan and the local plans will help to deliver that. If we consider the overall value of public procurement, food and catering services are worth about £220 million. When we think about how that is targeted, the potential impact on local communities and supply chains could be really powerful. We would hope that that would emerge from some of the other plans that are being developed.

There is an element of flexibility for health boards and local authorities to develop outcomes. It is important that there is some flexibility across Scotland so that each area can develop outcomes that reflect its specific needs. However, the legislation will underpin those plans and sets out the overall approach that will need to be taken. My officials will work closely with health boards and local authorities in the development of those plans.

On your first point about whether the plan should capture more of the community dining element, we are more than happy to look at that and see if it can be drawn out.

The only problem with the plan is that it has been out to consultation and gone through various iterations. Things are ever evolving and there are new initiatives. We always run the risk that the plan will miss something—it might not capture everything. However, again, we have that important reporting to do every two years, and a review of the plan after five years, too. That will hopefully give us a chance to capture anything that is missing.

I think that your second point was on how we could capture social value in relation to public procurement—

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.