Regional Senedd Member for South Wales East, Laura Anne Jones, has raised serious concerns about the amount of imported meat being served in Welsh school meals, warning that children are being fed food shipped thousands of miles while Welsh farmers and rural supply chains are being priced out of competing with the cost by high regulation government policy.

Ms Jones said: “Welsh parents will be shocked to learn that in some parts of Wales 99% of all the chicken served in school lunches is imported from countries like China and Thailand, an investigation by the Countryside Alliance found.

“At the very same time, the Welsh Government is asking our farmers to cut livestock to ‘save the planet’, heavily regulating local food production out of existence and forcing “meat-free” days in schools, whilst proclaiming how important it is for our children to have local and nutritious food.

“We need to make it easier for local food supply chains to produce food for our schools. It is outrageous that, with the best meat and produce in the world in Wales, we are having imported frozen meat shipped halfway across the world to be fed to our children in schools.”

Only last week, the regional MS spoke of a lack of abattoirs due to high costs, which also contributes to foreign imports being chosen.

Ms Jones said: “We need to support local rural economies, local Welsh jobs, protect animal welfare and cut food miles. We need to put quality Welsh food on Welsh plates.”