Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 19 February 2013
19 Feb 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Horsemeat Substitution in Europe
Does the cabinet secretary share the concern of some in the farming industry that the scandal will deter some consumers from eating any meat, even though Scottish pork, lamb and beef are world class, safe, healthy and 100 per cent traceable? Will he consider what extra support he might give to Quality Meat Scotland if meat sales in Scotland show any decline?
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
The next item of business is a statement by Richard Lochhead, on horsemeat substitution in Europe. As the cabinet secretary will take questions at the end of...
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment (Richard Lochhead)
SNP
I want to update Parliament on recent developments with regard to horsemeat and food fraud.As a result of the revelation of horsemeat being found in mislabel...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The cabinet secretary will now take questions on the issues raised in his statement. I can allow about 20 minutes for questions, after which we will move on ...
Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the cabinet secretary’s statement, although it is fair to say that the Scottish Government’s reaction has been slow. We fully support efforts to pr...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
I welcome some of Claire Baker’s comments, but I cannot take lessons on being slow to respond from someone who has not lodged an oral question, a First Minis...
Alex Fergusson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
I thank the cabinet secretary for the copy of his statement. Understandably, he highlighted in the statement the fine qualities of Scotch beef. However, the ...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
Alex Fergusson asked a number of questions. I will address first the issue of staff numbers and the number of food tests in Scotland decreasing. To put the t...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Many members wish to ask a question, but I am confident that we can get through everybody. I call Angus MacDonald, to be followed by Hanzala Malik.
Angus MacDonald (Falkirk East) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the Scottish Government’s swift actions when the matter first came to light. In light of the horsemeat scandal, what measures is the cabinet secret...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
Angus MacDonald makes a very good point, which I know all members take seriously: we are lucky in Scotland because we have a fantastic reputation for provena...
Hanzala Malik (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
Although the bulk of the statement and press reports have focused on horsemeat, the cabinet secretary may be aware that there has been at least one case of p...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
Hanzala Malik raises a very important point that we are looking at seriously. Indeed, Michael Matheson, the Minister for Public Health, spoke to faith groups...
Dave Thompson (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the prospect of an expert group looking at the FSA in Scotland. It was right that the FSA’s role in Scotland was protected when the UK Government t...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
We will look closely at consumer protection and I am sure that Michael Matheson will take on board Dave Thompson’s comments on the membership of the expert g...
Jim Hume (South Scotland) (LD)
LD
The cabinet secretary will be aware that I have campaigned for local food procurement for a long time. In fact, nearly six years ago today I held a members’ ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Mr Hume, can we get a bit further with the question, please?
Jim Hume
LD
Does the cabinet secretary agree that this is an opportune moment to push local food procurement up the political agenda and deliver more local food procurem...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
I have spoken about the food service sector and retailers; in the context of Mr Hume’s question, it is the food service sector that supplies the public secto...
Stewart Maxwell (West Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I alert members to my entry in the register of members’ interests, as I am an honorary vice-president of the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
Stewart Maxwell’s question largely relates to food safety as opposed to meat substitution and labelling, which is what my statement was about. Of course, tho...
Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
Does the cabinet secretary share the concern of some in the farming industry that the scandal will deter some consumers from eating any meat, even though Sco...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
The good news for the Scotch label is that Scottish meat is not showing a decline; it is showing an increase in sales. Many butchers whom I have spoken to ha...
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
I declare an interest as a member of the cross-party group on animal welfare and as a member of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
Yes, the spotlight will be on the horse trade in Europe as never before and on the associated welfare issues. I am happy to raise the issues that Christine G...
Graeme Pearson (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
The minister mentioned law enforcement efforts across the EU. In light of media reports indicating that those involved in the horse trade have used Scottish ...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
We are keen to discuss with the UK authorities trade through Scotland of horses. It is not a huge issue for Scotland in terms of trade routes but I am happy ...
Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP)
SNP
I note that some flexibility could exist in EU law with regard to quality and standards of labelling. Will the Government look at the potential of labelling ...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
As I said, I am keen to set up an expert working group to look at issues of provenance and traceability in Scotland, so I will certainly taken on board Rob G...
Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Green)
Green
We have a food industry with a long and complex supply chain dominated by huge profit-focused companies, and we have cuts in local authority inspections that...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
I do not think that we will ever be in the position of stopping food imports into Scotland—I do not think that consumers necessarily want that—but I certainl...