Hansard

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): SNP

Scotland is a nation of 5 million people, and covers nearly half the UK landmass. It has some of the best agricultural land in Europe and, without doubt, som...

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): LD

Is Adam Ingram saying that the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society, which was set up by the Scottish Executive to encourage co-ops to be set up in Sco...

Mr Ingram: SNP

No. I am saying that there ought to be a drive to support co-operatives, and to link that to the creation of joint ventures between co-operatives and dairy c...

George Lyon: LD

Is the member arguing that the SAOS's powers should be handed over?

Mr Ingram: SNP

We will talk about that later.

The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel): NPA

You are on your last minute.

Mr Ingram: SNP

Wherever possible, we should be encouraging new product development and innovative marketing, which has seen considerable growth in some segments of the dair...

The Minister for Rural Affairs (Ross Finnie): LD

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. Since I became Minister for Rural Affairs, I have been aware of the problems in the dairy sector. One ...

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): Con

Does Mr Finnie accept that the £50,000 survey that he has announced is too little, too late? The dairy industry has been in terminal decline for two years. H...

Ross Finnie: LD

I can say only that Mr Scott is disagreeing with the food chain working group that we set up, which includes representatives of the industry and of the Natio...

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): Con

I begin by drawing members' attention to my entry in the "Register of Interests of Members of the Scottish Parliament". They will find that I am a farmer. I ...

George Lyon: LD

If the European price is now below the world price, why do we need export restitutions to allow us to export products from the EU into world markets?

Alex Johnstone: Con

I am just reading a new section, which I will continue to read. It is suggested that the US five-year average projection for prices will be up to a penny abo...

George Lyon: LD

Will the member give way? He cannot be allowed to get away with it. He is arguing that co-operation is the way ahead for the dairy industry. It was his party...

Alex Johnstone: Con

The dissolution of the milk marketing boards in 1994 need not have been the end of co-operation. The circumstances allowed the creation of a number of active...

The Presiding Officer: NPA

Conclude now, please.

Alex Johnstone: Con

We must encourage co-operatives. They are an essential element—

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): Lab

Will the member give way?

The Presiding Officer: NPA

No, he is over time.

Alex Johnstone: Con

I have to wind up. As a member of a co-operative in the past, I believe that we must ensure that we strengthen them against the processor but not against the...

The Presiding Officer: NPA

That is enough—you are three minutes over time.

Alex Johnstone: Con

I welcome the fact that the SNP raised this subject; I support the motion.

The Presiding Officer: NPA

I am afraid I will have to take time off that allowed for the closing Conservative speaker, because this is a very short debate.

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): Lab

Members will have to forgive me, as one who was raised in this city, for not knowing about the intricacies of farming. However, nobody can deny—certainly nob...

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): SNP

If the price that farmers are paid for milk has fallen, why has the retail price not fallen? Is it not the case that there may be profiteering by the superma...

Dr Murray: Lab

I find that a curious intervention. Of course I would be concerned if the supermarkets were profiteering and I believe that the issue has been referred to th...

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): LD

Given what the member has said about the strength of sterling, does she agree that the farming industry needs a European currency sooner rather than later, w...

Dr Murray: Lab

That is something that we must take on board when we consider whether it is in Britain's interest to join the European single currency.

John Scott rose— Con

Dr Murray: Lab

I must press on, or I will run out of time. I will take an intervention from Mr Scott later, as I have something to say in which I am sure he will be interes...