Pubs, Hotels and
Restaurants (Financial Support)
(Stirling) (SNP): Does
the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism share my
concerns about the effects that the Covid-19 emergency is having
on small to medium-sized hotels, public houses and restaurants,
which are a vital part of the tourism economy in my constituency?
Even if current restrictions are eased, many of those
establishments, because of their size, will find it challenging,
thanks to safe social distancing, and will continue to require
financial support. What discussions have been held with the
United Kingdom Government in that regard?
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism (): Mr Crawford is correct.
For many businesses in the tourism sector, there is a sense that,
when it comes, the recovery will not be rapid; it will be slow
and not total but partial. Therefore, as Mr Crawford has clearly
articulated, there is a strong sense that many businesses will
face considerable pressure for a considerable time to come,
especially if, as Mr Crawford says, it proves to be necessary to
lift the restrictions partially and with the requirement to
continue to observe social distancing. That will place obvious
pressures on restaurants, hotels and bars. Therefore, I have
engaged extensively with UK colleagues, including , the UK minister, and we
have had constructive talks. When I have argued that the furlough
scheme might require to be extended beyond June, there has been
some sympathy from him that that scenario is faced particularly
by the tourism industry. Therefore, on a non-partisan basis, we
have argued—and we will continue to argue—the case for tourism,
because, even if the Covid-19 crisis is successfully overcome and
restrictions are lifted, the tourism sector in Scotland and the
rest of the UK will need more support for a long time to come.
Spring Barley (Whisky
Production)
(Highlands and Islands)
(Con): I remind members of my entry in the register of
members’ interests.
Farmers across Scotland have just finished planting hundreds of
thousands of acres of spring barley, specifically for whisky
production. If that barley is not required due to distillery
closures, the agriculture industry will face devastation. What
advice and reassurance can the Cabinet Secretary for Rural
Economy and Tourism give distillers and farmers across Scotland?
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism (): Mr Mountain raises a
very apposite point. I am keen to assure him that I am totally
apprised of that very issue—indeed, yesterday, I spent a
considerable time discussing it with NFU Scotland’s arable chair,
Willie Thomson from East Lothian.
Whisky distilleries require to be in use in order to consume
barley, so the concern is that if they have to remain mothballed
for too long, there will effectively be a slump in the price when
the barley crop is harvested. There are also difficulties with
storage. As Mr Mountain will know well, when barley is taken from
the farm it is immediately put into storage at places such as
Highland Grain, where, in many cases, it must be stored at
precise temperatures and its quality demonstrated prior to the
completion of transactions.
I am therefore wholly apprised and aware of the problem that Mr
Mountain raises. Of course, NFU Scotland accepts that, at the
moment, we must put safety first and, as is right and proper, we
have measures in place for the protection of the public. However,
we also need to plan ahead to ensure that, if it is possible, as
I sincerely hope that it will be, whisky distilling can resume
once it is safe to do so—I emphasise that point—and that that
will alleviate the pressure on the barley crop.
There are also other pressures. For example, the fall in oil
prices in the USA might lead to maize flooding the European
market. That would impact the price of wheat, which is controlled
internationally.
This is therefore a complex matter. The Scottish Government is
absolutely apprised of its being a major problem, which we shall
be giving a lot of attention to as we work with partners such as
NFU Scotland.
