Hansard

I acknowledge Gordon MacDonald for bringing this important debate to the chamber. I very much agree with everything that he said.

The subject is very close to my heart. As many members will know, two of the things that I like most in life are beer and pubs, normally taken together. In order to have those things, we need good home-grown brewing capabilities in Scotland that are also recognised internationally.

As a newly elected MSP, I was delighted to be asked to convene the cross-party group on beer and pubs in the Scottish Parliament. Since becoming convener of the group, I have worked with colleagues on the CPG to raise awareness of the importance of beer and pubs to brand Scotland and to highlight some of the opportunities and threats that the industry faces. It is therefore good, on this occasion, to be discussing what is a good-news story for the Scottish brewing industry.

Only last night, the CPG on beer and pubs met for our annual quiz night. It was a lively event at the Bellfield Brewery taproom, just a stone’s throw from the Parliament. Close to 100 people—MSPs, staffers and industry figures, including brewers—gathered for some friendly competition, while those who wanted to could enjoy a pint or two of Bellfield Brewery’s delicious IPAs, hoppy ales and crisp lagers.

The team at Bellfield, like many brewers in Scotland, are dedicated to brewing great-tasting beers. They are independent, passionate, committed and proud of the beers that they brew, and they are fostering entrepreneurship from the grain to the glass.

There are some significant issues on the horizon, but what we are talking about today could be yet another game changer in the Scottish industry. The characteristics that Bellfield shows are, I think, those that are embodied by the world-renowned international centre for brewing and distilling at Heriot-Watt University. The centre has nurtured undergraduate and graduate courses that have breathed new life into brewing and distilling, which is hugely important not just to the Scottish and UK economies but for our global reputation and trading relationships. At the last count, in the South Scotland region, which I represent, there were 16 breweries and 703 pubs, which have created 7,530 jobs and contributed £117 million in gross value added to the economy.

However, these are difficult times for the industry. I am hopeful that a new state-of-the-art centre for sustainable brewing and distilling will ensure a resilient and profitable future for both industries that will feed into breweries, distilleries and pubs here and elsewhere.

I am afraid to say that the brewing industry faces a significant skills gap, and I am pleased that the centre, if it secures the funding, will play a vital role in training the next generation of industry professionals, who will be recognised, as Mr MacDonald said, not just here in Scotland but around the world.

With the support of brewing giants such as Carlsberg and Diageo, I hope that Heriot-Watt University’s aim to raise the necessary £35 million will be successful and that the new centre will be able to tackle the fresh set of challenges that the industry faces. That will also assist it in playing its part in tackling the climate crisis while remaining a driver of employment and growth.

Brewers and pubs are key strategic assets for the Scottish economy and society, but the sectors face mounting pressures from rising costs to increased regulation and the tax burden, which could get worse at the next budget. Therefore, we need to provide targeted support.

The proposed centre would be transformational for the brewing industry, but it alone will not be enough to turn around the fortunes of the brewing and pub sectors. Therefore, I ask the minister to consider the requests of the industry and stakeholders, including the Scottish Beer and Pub Association, which, in its manifesto, asked the Government to adopt several recommendations, including a request for it to recognise and act on the findings of the “What does ‘Brand Scotland’ mean for the Scottish Beer and Pub sector?” report, which was published last year by the cross-party group on beer and pubs.

Evidence-based interventions that are aligned with Government priorities will be a game changer and could help to save jobs in an industry that still faces headwinds. I very much welcome the work that the centre can do in ensuring that beer and pubs remain an important part of our economy and a much-loved part of Scotland’s reputation, not just here but abroad.

I close by thanking Mr MacDonald for securing the debate and by lending my voice in support of the centre.