Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 17 March 2016
17 Mar 2016 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Food
I come to the debate from a slightly different point of view, having spent most of my life in the food production industry or the farming industry prior to becoming involved in politics.
In the opening speech, Alison Johnstone said that, in Scotland, there should be
“plenty of good food for everyone.”
I could not agree more. Scotland’s farming industry is one of the most efficient and productive to be found anywhere in the world. The intensive methods that it uses are high output and low impact and we have the highest standards of animal welfare to be found anywhere on the planet. We have a great deal to be proud of.
I have no wish to offend or to cause discord when other members talk about organic methods. I do not object to organic farming, but I object to the idea that that method is somehow better, more appropriate or worthy of greater support than the traditional Scottish methods than many Scottish farmers use to produce high-quality food. I will always defend those farmers.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S4M-15826, in the name of Alison Johnstone, on Scotland’s food future. The debate will be c...
Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Green)
Green
I welcome the opportunity to debate in Parliament Scotland’s food future, and I thank colleagues who have made that possible by supporting my motion. My mot...
Bruce Crawford (Stirling) (SNP)
SNP
On Monday, I visited a fantastic project in Balfron in my constituency. It is a Food Connections project, the aim of which is to encourage pupils to understa...
Alison Johnstone
Green
I thank Bruce Crawford for mentioning that project because it is a fantastic example of making the best use of land everywhere. If we can engage pupils in ou...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
You must draw to a close, please.
Alison Johnstone
Green
I will. Nourish Scotland would like to tender for work, but it turns out that the only tender that is available to it is one that wraps up a massive amount ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Many thanks. We are tight for time today, so speeches should be of four minutes. 12:43
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab)
Lab
I congratulate Alison Johnstone on her motion and I congratulate all the local groups that are mentioned in it, especially those that are based in my constit...
Christian Allard (North East Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I did not sign the motion, because although I read the report and thought that it was very good, I think that something is missing: it needs a stronger empha...
Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I come to the debate from a slightly different point of view, having spent most of my life in the food production industry or the farming industry prior to b...
Alison Johnstone
Green
I am sure that Alex Johnstone will agree that organic farming is traditional and that it could do with greater support in Scotland than it receives.
Alex Johnstone
Con
It is important to realise that, if a particular method is productive and worthwhile, it should compete in a competitive environment with other methods of fa...
John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Ind)
Ind
Will Alex Johnstone give way?
Alex Johnstone
Con
I ask Mr Finnie to let me carry on. I have only four minutes. Food is produced and it gets to the shops where people can buy it. The problem is that not all...
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the Scottish food coalition’s important set of policy asks in advance of the Scottish Parliament elections. The fact that the group is a coalition ...
Christian Allard
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Sarah Boyack
Lab
No, thank you. That is why Scottish Labour has campaigned so strongly for the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board to be retained. The board is crucial to prev...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Can you draw to a close, please?
Sarah Boyack
Lab
I also welcome the sustainable food cities initiative and I want to link in the work that is being done by our allotment-growing networks. Let us look at cha...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
You must close, please.
Sarah Boyack
Lab
It is the interconnection between that range of issues that will deliver on the fantastic work that is being done by the food coalition. 13:01
John Wilson (Central Scotland) (Ind)
Ind
I congratulate Alison Johnstone on bringing this important debate to the chamber. I spoke recently in the chamber about the amount of food that is wasted and...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
The member should draw to a close, please.
John Wilson
Ind
We must be bolder in delivering opportunities for communities to have the resources to produce food locally. We need to work together to ensure that that wor...
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment (Richard Lochhead)
SNP
I congratulate Alison Johnstone on bringing the debate to the chamber. It is a welcome, topical and timely debate, and it illustrates the growing importance ...
John Finnie
Ind
The cabinet secretary mentions all those small community projects; they are tremendous, and the aggregate effect can be very impressive. However, what part s...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
Planning policy should play a role. I welcomed the fact that many of the initiatives that members mentioned in the debate originated from and have been suppo...
Alison Johnstone
Green
Will the cabinet secretary give way?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
The cabinet secretary is in his last minute.
Richard Lochhead
SNP
Food education, which some members mentioned, is also crucial. It is not good enough that our young people do not know where the food on their plate comes fr...