A Right to Food in Scotland

Consultation Response Guide

The Scottish Government is currently running an online consultation on creating a Right to Food in Scots Law. Proposed by Co-operative MSP Rhoda Grant, the Right to Food (Scotland) Bill would place a legal responsibility on the Scottish Government to end hunger in Scotland.

Here in one of the richest countries in the world, nobody should go hungry. This consultation is your chance to support the Bill and ensure Scotland leads the way on ending hunger.

To help you take part, we have created this guide on how to respond to the consultation. We'd advise doing this on a desktop computer, so you can:

When asked to explain your response: we strongly advise using your own words and speaking from your own experiences and observations. However we will also provide bullet points to help you form your response, which you can use for inspiration.

The consultation contains 11 questions, and will take about 20 minutes to complete.

Ready? Click the button below to open the official consultation website in a new window, then come back here and click "Start" to begin!

Open the Consultation WebsiteStart

Introduction

The first few pages of the survey are easy to fill in: they just ask you for some information about yourself such as what kind of response you are giving (as an individual), your name and email address, and if you are happy with your response being published. Simply fill in your details until you reach question 1, then hit next!

Question 1

1. Which of the following best expresses your view of the proposal to incorporate the right to food into Scots law?

We answered: Fully supportive

When asked to explain the reasons for your response, use your own words to explain why you support the law. We've provided some bullet points here to get you started if you need help, but again please try to use your own words.

Question 2

2. Do you think legislation is required, or are there other ways in which the proposed Bill’s aims could be achieved more effectively? Please explain the reasons for your response.

We answered: Yes, legislation is required.

This is a text box, so you could simply reply that "Yes, I think legislation is required" but could also go into more detail as to why. We've provided some bullet points here to get you started if you need help, but again please try to use your own words.

Question 3

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?

We answered: Fully supportive

When asked to explain the reasons for your response, use your own words to explain why you support an independent body overseeing the implementation of a Right to Food. We've provided some bullet points here to get you started if you need help, but again please try to use your own words.

Question 4

4. Should an independent body be given responsibility for overseeing and reporting
on the right to food, do you think it should be:

We answered: A newly created body

When asked to explain the reasons for your response, use your own words to explain why you support the law. We've provided some bullet points here to get you started if you need help, but again please try to use your own words.

Question 5

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?

We answered: Fully supportive

When asked to explain the reasons for your response, use your own words to explain your reasons. We've provided some bullet points here to get you started if you need help, but again please try to use your own words.

Question 6

6. Which of the following best describes your view of placing responsibility for
guaranteeing the right to food on the Scottish Government?

We answered: Fully supportive

When asked to explain the reasons for your response, use your own words to explain why you support the law. We've provided some bullet points here to get you started if you need help, but again please try to use your own words.

Question 7

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?

We answered: Increased the need for the Bill

When asked to explain the reasons for your response, use your own words to explain your reasons. We've provided some bullet points here to get you started if you need help, but again please try to use your own words.

Question 8

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:

We answered: No overall change in costs

When asked where you expect the impact identified to fall, use your own words to respond. We've provided some bullet points here to get you started if you need help, but again please try to use your own words.

Question 9

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?

We answered: Positive

When asked to explain the reasons for your response, use your own words to explain your reasons. We've provided some bullet points here to get you started if you need help, but again please try to use your own words.

Question 10

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:

  • living within environmental limits
  • ensuring a strong, healthy and just society
  • achieving a sustainable economy
  • promoting effective, participative systems of governance
  • 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?

We answered: Yes

When asked to explain the reason for your response, use your own words to respond. We've provided some bullet points here to get you started if you need help, but again please try to use your own words.

Question 11

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)?

This is an open text box, so use your own words to respond. We've provided some bullet points here to get you started if you need help, but again please try to use your own words.

You did it!

Thanks for filling out the consultation. Will you share now and ask others to get involved?

Promoted by Joe Fortune on behalf of the Co-operative Party, both at Unit 13, 83 Crampton Street, London, SE17 3BQ, United Kingdom. Co-operative Party Limited is a registered Society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014. Registered no. 30027R.

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