Debate in the Scottish Parliament on motion S6M-00990, in the name
of , on supporting success in food and drink in
Scotland.
Extracts
(Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con):...I move
on to Scotch whisky. We all know that that is an amazing industry.
It employs 11,000 people in Scotland, 7,000 of whom work in rural
areas. We know how important it is to ensure that there are strong,
sustainable and resilient businesses in rural areas where there is
depopulation.
Time is rumbling on, so I will talk about the benefits relating
to the changes to the tariffs on single malt Scotch whisky. We
know that the industry has been under huge threat. There has been
a downturn in sales because of Covid and fewer people have been
going into visitor centres. However, it is important to recognise
that some markets will be opened up. The Scotch Whisky
Association has recognised that opening up the market to
Australia and removing the 5 per cent tariff on whisky exports
and, indeed, the removal of the 25 per cent export tariff by the
US, will help to ensure that the Scotch whisky industry can
recover what it has lost and also increase sales.
(Galloway
and West Dumfries) (Con): (16.42) ...Bladnoch distillery has
witnessed its whisky exports and production range increase
dramatically under the leadership of master distiller Nick Savage.
It is not alone: Five Kingdoms brewery and Sulwath Brewers,
together with Dark Art and Hills and Harbour gin, have all tasted
sweet success and growth—post-Brexit and mid-Covid, I might add.
Despite that, the SNP Government is still failing to give our
food and drink industry the support that it rightly deserves.
TO READ THE FULL DEBATE, CLICK HERE
