Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of (a) trends in the level of investment in the Scotch Whisky industry and (b) the effect of that investment on the UK economy in the last five years.

Scotland's Whisky industry plays a vital role in both the UK and Scottish economy.

The Scotch Whisky industry invested more than £500 million in capital projects over the last five years and for every £100 of added value the industry produces, another £45 is generated in the broader economy. Overall, this industry is estimated to have contributed £5.5 billion to the UK economy in GVA in 2018. This is a 10% increase when compared to the industry's GVA in 2016.

The industry continues to support 42,000 jobs across the UK. This includes 10,500 directly in Scotland, and 7,000 in rural communities. Globally, a record high of over £4.7 billion of Scotch Whisky was exported in 2018 to around 180 countries.