Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 25 February 2026 [Draft]
25 Feb 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Food and Drink Sector (Exports)
Scotland’s £19 billion food and drink sector remains vital to our economy, with its products making up around 30 per cent of total United Kingdom food and drink exports.
Despite challenging trading conditions, 2025 data from His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs shows that whisky and salmon exports remain strong, being worth £5.4 billion and £828 million, respectively, which reflects the sector’s exceptional businesses. We will continue to back their growth in new and existing markets through our six-point export plan and our £15 million investment in Scotland’s industry-led food and drink strategy. Those are just two examples of how we are supporting the sector to ensure that it has a prosperous future.
In the same item of business
3. Bill Kidd (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP)
SNP
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the economic contribution of the Scottish food and drink sector to Scotland’s international exp...
The Minister for Business and Employment (Richard Lochhead)
SNP
Scotland’s £19 billion food and drink sector remains vital to our economy, with its products making up around 30 per cent of total United Kingdom food and dr...
Bill Kidd
SNP
Despite the recent figures that show that Scotland dramatically outperforms England on food and drink exports—in fact, we export more than six times as much ...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
Clearly, if we were an independent state, we would have full control over our own trade strategy, and we could decide how to work with our European partners ...