Mobile abattoirs
3.
(South Scotland) (Lab)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update
on any progress that has been made on the use of mobile abattoirs. (S6O-00083)
The
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands ()
The feasibility study that was commissioned by the Scottish
Government and published in March last year provides details of
what would be required to operate mobile abattoirs in Scotland, including the
regulatory framework, and it offers a cost benefit analysis of
possible operational models. However, the report also highlights
the difficulty in achieving a sustained economic return from a
mobile abattoir in Scotland. Any next steps would be
for a commercial operator who wishes to take such a plan forward.
The Scottish Government, in conjunction with Food Standards
Scotland, would of course be willing to discuss that in more
detail with any organisation that is considering operating mobile
abattoirs in Scotland.
In recent evidence to the United Kingdom Parliament’s
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs minister
committed the UK Government to “supporting new
initiatives” such as mobile abattoirs to help support local demand. The
very report that the cabinet secretary mentioned recognised that
there are areas of Scotland where animals have to be moved more
than 100 miles before they reach an abattoir. Given that, as far back as January
2019, NFU Scotland highlighted that there has been a
“steady and worrying loss of small abattoirs”
over the past few years, when will the Scottish Government match
the UK Government’s commitment, and when will it happen?
As I outlined in my opening response, we wanted to undertake a
study in this area to see whether it would be feasible, and we
have committed to work with any operators who would be keen to
take the model forward to see whether we could make it work in
Scotland. I absolutely understand the point that the member has
raised. Ideally, we want food to be processed as close as
possible to the point of primary production, and we are keen to
work with anyone who is willing to take the model forward.
The
Deputy Presiding Officer
We have a couple of supplementaries; I hope that both questions
and answers will be brief.
(Argyll and Bute) (SNP)
What support is the Scottish Government providing to Scotland’s
quality pig producer sector?
I was really pleased to announce on Monday this week that we have
opened the Scottish Government’s pig producers hardship support
scheme for applications. The scheme will provide up to £715,000
of financial support to pig producers who were affected by the
temporary closure of the abattoir in Brechin earlier this year. We have
worked closely with the sector to ensure that the fund provides
affected farmers with financial support for the losses that they
incurred through no fault of their own. The scheme is open for
applications until 26 September, and I encourage people to apply
as soon as possible.
(Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
We on the Conservative side of the chamber agree that mobile
abattoirs are important. However, the Scottish
National Party Government must support livestock farming to
ensure its sustainability. Will the cabinet secretary confirm or
deny that her civil servants suggested that Scottish livestock
farmers should slaughter thousands of cattle, and will she tell
members why the suckler beef climate group has been ignored since
March?
As the member will know, I refuted that statement yesterday
during the debate on the food and drink industry. I said that it
was nonsense then, and it is still nonsense today.
