Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the contribution of the Scotch whisky industry to the UK tourism sector and hospitality sector.

Whilst no specific assessment has been made by the UK Government, according to the Scotch Whisky Association, the Scotch Whisky industry continues to provide a significant contribution to the Scottish economy with sustained export values of around £4.5 billion and £5.5 billion in gross value added (GVA) to the UK economy.

The 140 Scotch Whisky distilleries which operate across Scotland attracted around 2.2 million visitors in 2019, making this industry the third most popular tourist attraction. These figures demonstrate the employment opportunities that this industry provides for the UK tourist and hospitality sector.