Hansard

I refer to my entry in the register of members’ interests, which mentions my farming and aquaculture interests and the fact that I am a non-executive director of Murray Income Trust, a company that has food and drink investments.

I am pleased to be able to open for the Scottish Conservatives in this important and timely debate on an issue of significance to not only the Highlands and Islands region that I represent, but the whole of Scotland. I share many of the sentiments that the cabinet secretary expressed and I hope that—with some exceptions—this debate will generally be consensual, because Scotland rightly prides itself on the high-quality offering in our food and drink sector.

That was evident at last night’s event in the Parliament, which was hosted by John Scott and attended by many members, including the cabinet secretary, and where there was a small but impressive showcase from what is an incredible sector. I was particularly impressed to hear from four young people who work in the industry. They are all optimistic about their future and offer the inspirational message to other young people that this is a thriving industry.

There is clear evidence that the food and drink sector is growing and thriving. During this debate, I am sure that we will be treated to a smörgåsbord of delicious examples of food and drink from across Scotland. The most recent statistics show that exports from the manufacture of food and drink increased by £270 million to £5.5 billion in 2016 and that turnover is up by 36 per cent over the past decade. The Food and Drink Federation Scotland estimates that a further 27,000 jobs will be required in the sector over the next 10 years. That highlights the growth opportunities in food and drink. These are phenomenal achievements by the sector, which all sides of the political divide will surely welcome.

I could talk about the Highlands and Islands for ever, but I will talk about the region briefly. Whenever I visit a local food and drink business, people talk optimistically about their future. For instance, it is well known that the Highlands and Islands has seen a boom in gin production, with new distilleries opening in Barra and on Harris, Tiree and Mull over the past few years. I do not want to be accused of favouritism by naming certain products, but I think that it is instructive that the Scotland Office has noted that 70 per cent of gin production in the UK comes from Scotland. That is an incredible feat for our country.

Whisky, of course, should be mentioned. Some members will be delighted to know that on Islay, the new Ardnahoe distillery is practically in full swing. Other new distilleries are mooted, so it might be that the number of distilleries on Islay will go back into double figures for the first time in a long time.

On a national level, my party welcomes the Scottish Government’s recent announcement of help to grow the food and drink sector further. We support the aim to deliver an additional £1 billion to Scotland’s economy by 2030 via the food tourism Scotland action plan to which the cabinet secretary referred. We all know and recognise the importance of continuing to grow the Scottish brand world wide and targeting new and emerging markets for the various products that we have to offer. For example, whisky exports to Africa were boosted recently by the successful registration of Scotch whisky as a trademark in South Africa, and last year we had the welcome news that haggis can now be imported into Canada. Scotland’s offering to the world is growing, which is plainly to be welcomed.

Conservatives and, I think, members of other parties are concerned that the proposed good food nation bill appeared to have been downgraded into a programme in last week’s programme for government. A good food nation bill is an important measure, which would not only support the growth of Scottish food and drink abroad, but increase domestic access, which is fundamental. The introduction of such a bill over the next year would present a great opportunity to join up the Government’s approach to food and drink, in the context of agriculture, environment, health, education, planning and licensing, for example. In our view, a good food nation bill has the potential to make a difference in the fight to make Scotland a healthier and more sustainable nation.

The fact is that if the Scottish Government wanted to embody the bold ambition to which the First Minister referred prior to announcing her programme for government, it would commit to introducing the bill sooner rather than later. After all, the bill was mooted back in the 2016 programme for government and in last year’s programme for government, and it was in the Scottish National Party’s manifesto in 2016. Where has that ambition gone? Why the delay? I welcome the cabinet secretary’s words at the start of his speech, and I genuinely have no doubt about his and the Government’s sincerity when it comes to their support of the policy, but I do not understand their reticence and reluctance to get going now.

Questions have been asked by many individuals and organisations outside Parliament about the rationale for downgrading the plan. Others will question why there is not a more concrete commitment to legislate soon. WWF Scotland has said:

“A Good Food Nation Bill would provide the legislative means to tackle the significant challenges of Scotland’s current food system.”

Pete Ritchie of Nourish Scotland said that it

“would set a new direction of travel for food in Scotland ... Scotland has all the ingredients to deliver this, and the public are behind it. We just need the political will.”

Both those charities are part of the larger Scottish food coalition, whose chair described last week’s announcement as “disappointing”.

We believe that, given the positive support for legislation in the programme for government, there was an ideal chance for the Scottish Government to introduce some new legislation and to be bold, radical and brave. We do not understand why a bill that commands such wide cross-party support and the backing of charities, the agricultural sector and the wider public looks as if it will be kicked into the long grass.