Scotch Beef
3. Bill Kidd (Glasgow
Anniesland) (SNP)
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to help ensure
that quality Scotch beef is available in supermarkets
in Scotland. (S6O-02198)
The Cabinet Secretary for
Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands ()
Scotch beef is an iconic product, and I am pleased to say that it
is available in each of the main grocery retailers in Scotland as
well as in the vast majority of our independent high street
butchers. Whenever I meet retailers, the sourcing of Scottish
produce, including Scotch beef, is always part of the agenda. In
addition, Quality Meat Scotland regularly meets retailers and
their Scotch beef suppliers to promote and align marketing
campaigns on Scotch beef. It is, of course, important to our
agriculture sector that our supermarkets
stock not just Scotch beef but Scotch lamb and specially selected
pork.
Bill Kidd
It was recently reported that Scotbeef had lost the contract to
supply Aldi with beef. Scotch beef is a product of unparalleled
quality that everyone should be able to enjoy if they wish, so
does the cabinet secretary agree that, although Aldi stocks other
Scotch beef products, it is vital that, during the on-going cost
of living crisis, discount retailers continue to provide as wide
a range of products as possible and give people affordable access
to the best of Scotland’s larder?
I absolutely agree that Scotch beef should be available to
everyone from all walks of life. I know that, over the years,
Aldi has strongly supported Scottish produce and its supply
across Scotland, including by offering Scotch beef to its
customers. My understanding of the situation is that a change in
suppliers has resulted in a temporary reduction in the
availability of Scotch beef in Aldi. However, Aldi remains
committed to sourcing Scotch beef. It is in the process of
acquiring a new contract, and it will have Scotch beef back on
its shelves as soon as possible.
Finlay Carson (Galloway
and West Dumfries) (Con)
With support from QMS, the Scottish beef industry delivers the
highest standards of production and of animal welfare and
wellbeing. That results in the production of the highest quality
of beef, with a carbon footprint that is significantly below the
global average.
Last month, the Climate Change Committee spelled out its belief
that Scotland will need to slash dairy and beef numbers by 29 per
cent and 26 per cent respectively to meet the net zero targets.
Will the cabinet secretary rule out any cut to red meat
production and assure me and the farming industry that she has a
practical and achievable plan to meet the legal climate change
targets and protect livestock farming in Scotland?
That is exactly what we are trying to do. I give that assurance
to Finlay Carson, as I have done previously when his colleagues
have raised with me the issue relating to a reduction in numbers.
We know that we produce livestock well in Scotland, and there
will continue to be a role for that into the future. That is why
our vision for agriculture and our agriculture reform programme
route map make clear our commitment to enabling the producers of
high-quality food to deliver on our shared outcomes for
biodiversity recovery and climate adaptation and mitigation, and
it is why we continue to support those sectors.
Edward Mountain (Highlands
and Islands) (Con)
I remind members of my entry in the register of members’
interests, which shows that I am part of a family farming
partnership, and we produce beef.
Farmers have a duty to reduce their emissions in order to achieve
net zero. I completely agree with that, but one measure that is
needed in order to do that is keeping livestock on the farm after
they are ready for slaughter. That happens with beef cattle, many
of which are ready at 11 months but cannot be sold as Scotch beef
until they are at 12 months. Will the cabinet secretary address
that issue with QMS?
I am happy to raise the matter with QMS and to discuss it with
Edward Mountain if he would like to do so.
