Chamber
Plenary, 06 Feb 2003
06 Feb 2003 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Organic Farming Targets (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
We must ensure that support for our farmers is at the very least equivalent to the support offered elsewhere.
Another factor to take into account is the on-going concern about the safety of food and its nutritional value. Fruit and vegetables are good for us and part of the healthy eating campaign is that we should eat more of them. I am a vegetarian and fruit and vegetables form a large part of my diet, but I am concerned by the latest figures on pesticide residues. The figures are a cause for concern; a third of all food on sale in the UK is alleged to be contaminated—much of that is fruit and vegetables. I am inclined to the view that we do not know what is the safe level for the use of many of those chemicals—if there is one. That health risk is eliminated in organic produce.
The bill is good news for the agriculture industry as it provides direction, a focus on quality produce and a firm basis for sustainable growth. It will deliver benefits for biodiversity, the landscape and animal welfare. It will reduce pollution in the environment and it will be good news for the health of our people. What more could we ask? Please support the bill.
Another factor to take into account is the on-going concern about the safety of food and its nutritional value. Fruit and vegetables are good for us and part of the healthy eating campaign is that we should eat more of them. I am a vegetarian and fruit and vegetables form a large part of my diet, but I am concerned by the latest figures on pesticide residues. The figures are a cause for concern; a third of all food on sale in the UK is alleged to be contaminated—much of that is fruit and vegetables. I am inclined to the view that we do not know what is the safe level for the use of many of those chemicals—if there is one. That health risk is eliminated in organic produce.
The bill is good news for the agriculture industry as it provides direction, a focus on quality produce and a firm basis for sustainable growth. It will deliver benefits for biodiversity, the landscape and animal welfare. It will reduce pollution in the environment and it will be good news for the health of our people. What more could we ask? Please support the bill.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Mr Murray Tosh):
Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S1M-3856, in the name of Robin Harper, on the general principles of the Organic Farming Targets (Scotland) Bi...
Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green):
Green
It is with great pleasure that I invite the Parliament to approve the general principles of the Organic Farming Targets (Scotland) Bill. This small but beaut...
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab):
Lab
I recognise Robin Harper's work and I am genuinely listening to him. He knows that I have supported what he is doing. It would help if he explained how statu...
Robin Harper:
Green
My speech will cover that.The nature and size of the targets in the bill troubled the Rural Development Committee. I told the committee that I would be prepa...
Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
All of us have seen the courteous letters that were exchanged between Robin Harper and the Minister for Environment and Rural Development. I have difficulty ...
Robin Harper:
Green
Mike Russell virtually took the words out of my mouth. He evinced the same concerns as I have and enunciated the way forward that the Executive could have ac...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
You are over time.
Robin Harper:
Green
I am pleased that, two days ago, the Executive published the "Organic Action Plan" with targets. The uncharitable might view that as an attempt to head off t...
The Minister for Environment and Rural Development (Ross Finnie):
LD
I welcome the debate on how best to support sustainable development in the Scottish organic sector. I make it clear that the Executive does not regard the su...
Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab):
Lab
I accept the point that the minister makes, but will he accept that another important argument is about affordability? Does he accept that the Executive will...
Ross Finnie:
LD
With all due respect, I am not arguing against that. I wholly support that view. I merely said that it is wrong to suggest that the Executive can set some so...
Michael Russell:
SNP
I want to raise a point with the minister that I raised in my intervention on Robin Harper. It is very difficult for private members to introduce bills. Desp...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
Mr Russell, your question was rather long-winded.
Ross Finnie:
LD
I think that I got the essential point. The fundamental issue is that the Executive works with stakeholders to produce all sorts of plans. Our agricultural s...
Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP):
SNP
First, I congratulate Robin Harper on producing a bill that has already had a considerable impact on the Executive's approach to the organic farming sector, ...
Robin Harper:
Green
Will the member take an intervention?
Bruce Crawford:
SNP
I will do so, but I first want to say something to qualify what I have just said. It would be preferable for targets to be introduced through, for example, a...
Robin Harper:
Green
Does the member accept that the SOPA representative later conceded that he was speaking for himself rather than for SOPA when he said what the member quoted?
Bruce Crawford:
SNP
That is true—I accept that entirely. I do not think that we should not have targets or that there cannot be targets, but the issue is how to achieve them and...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
Please close, Mr Crawford.
Bruce Crawford:
SNP
I will be brief. In Aberdeen, the First Minister told us that, where it was possible and achievable, he would discuss with members introducing members' bills...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
I am afraid that there is no scope for members to overrun their time limits in the way that Bruce Crawford has done. Members should stick closely to the time...
Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con):
Con
I will preface my speech as the rural affairs spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives with some sentences as convener of the Rural Development Committee. Fi...
Robin Harper:
Green
Does the member accept that conventional farming is not market led and that it exists on subsidies? Why should organic farming not receive similar support?
Alex Fergusson:
Con
I will come to that matter. Mr Harper is well aware that there is a separate organic aid scheme.The evidence that the past chairman of SOPA gave us and lette...
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab):
Lab
We are not debating the merits of organic farming; we are debating the general principles of a bill in Robin Harper's name. I intimate that I will not suppor...
Bruce Crawford:
SNP
Does Alasdair Morrison agree that the action plan does not bring us entirely into line with England and Wales, because in Wales targets have been set for org...
Mr Morrison:
Lab
I find it perplexing that the targets within a bill entitled the Organic Farming Targets (Scotland) Bill would not be statutory or binding, as Robin Harper s...
Robin Harper rose—
Green
Mr Morrison:
Lab
I would like Mr Harper to let me continue. We should consider where the considerable amount of money that is spent supporting farming is deployed. Could that...