Committee
Public Petitions Committee 08 March 2011
08 Mar 2011 · S3 · Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
Current Petitions
Dairy Farmers (Human Rights) (PE1263)
Notwithstanding the many pressures that for the past decade and more have faced dairy farmers across Scotland, including in Argyll and the southern isles, it is important to note that ring fencing was introduced on certain boundaries to take into account specific circumstances and that where the ring fencing applies can be changed.In the case of Islay Creamery, which unfortunately closed for commercial reasons, the farmers who were more closely aligned with that creamery were taken out of the ring fencing. Because we still have Campbeltown creamery and Arran creamery, the ring fencing boundary was changed so that the ring fencing still applied to the producers supplying those two creameries. We can adjust where the ring fencing applies, which is why the closure of Islay Creamery removed part of the rationale for the ring fencing in that area of Scotland. However, the reason for retaining the ring fencing for the Campbeltown and Arran creameries remains, which is why there is still ring fencing there, albeit with a slightly different boundary.
In the same item of business
The Convener
Lab
PE1263, by Evelyn Mundell, on behalf of Ben Mundell, concerns human rights for dairy farmers.I welcome Richard Lochhead, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affa...
Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
For brevity’s sake, I will move straight to my questions, of which I have three.Given that the Government now admits that it considered human rights issues w...
The Convener
Lab
As long as we have time to ensure that members of the committee can ask questions as well.
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment (Richard Lochhead)
SNP
I think that I heard you say that this was the last meeting of the committee this session, convener, which means that it is your last meeting of any committe...
Jamie McGrigor
Con
I disagree with the cabinet secretary. The ring fence was introduced in 1984 and in 1994, when there was deregulation, the whole picture changed. At that poi...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
In response to the question on the timing of the introduction of ring fencing, my understanding of the timetable—I ask the officials to intervene if I am wro...
Jamie McGrigor
Con
Yes.
Richard Lochhead
SNP
You said ring fencing, so I am just clarifying what you meant.In response to deregulation under the Conservative Government in the early 1990s and the disban...
Jamie McGrigor
Con
I said that the Scottish Government stated specifically that the removal of the ring fence for Islay allowed dairy farmers there to sell quota on the open ma...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
Notwithstanding the many pressures that for the past decade and more have faced dairy farmers across Scotland, including in Argyll and the southern isles, it...
Jamie McGrigor
Con
On that point, minister, only 20 per cent of the original dairy farmers in that area now exist, because most of the others have gone bankrupt. Does the minis...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
The member refers to some of the wider pressures facing the dairy sector and the reduction in the number of dairy farmers in one part of Scotland. I do not d...
Jamie McGrigor
Con
But at least those in other areas were able to sell their quota and diversify. May I ask one more question, convener?
The Convener
Lab
Yes.
Jamie McGrigor
Con
Did the Government at any stage consider the economic impact on dairy farmers in the southern isles’ ring-fenced area of not being able, unlike virtually all...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
I will answer what I can of that question, because we are going back to 1994 when the ring-fencing concept was introduced and implemented. On the adjustments...
Jamie McGrigor
Con
Minister, the creamery was not obligated to pick up milk from the farmers in question.
Richard Lochhead
SNP
I can only give you the rationale that was used for the decision making on ring fencing.
The Convener
Lab
Thank you. Do members have any further questions?
Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab)
Lab
Good afternoon, minister. You stated, quite correctly, that Governments of whatever political complexion do not reveal their legal advice. However, the infor...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
I cannot answer that question. Ministers take advice and reach a policy decision. On this issue, we have considered the human rights legislation and been mad...
Bill Butler
Lab
I guessed that that would be the response, given Angela Lawson’s emphatic head shaking.For the record, will you reiterate the main reasons why the Scottish G...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
As I alluded to, a number of factors affect the profitability of dairy farms. Jamie McGrigor might dispute this, but I have looked into the issue and am unaw...
The Convener
Lab
I ask Jamie McGrigor what contact he has had with other dairy farmers.
Jamie McGrigor
Con
I have spoken to several dairy farmers about the issue and I can assure the minister that the people who are presenting the petition are not the only ones wh...
The Convener
Lab
I must bring the questioning to a close, as we need to discuss where we go with the petition. I seek members’ views on our options.
Bill Butler
Lab
We are grateful to the cabinet secretary for coming and for his evidence. This is the committee’s last meeting, so there are two alternatives. One is to clos...
Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green)
Green
Sorry, but I disagree with Bill Butler. The petition is fairly narrow in that it asks the Government to“accept that individual dairy farmers have human right...
Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I agree with Bill Butler’s suggestion, particularly since the review will include a full public consultation exercise, which might well bring forward the oth...
The Convener
Lab
We have two diametrically opposed suggestions. Are there any more views?