Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment his Department has made of the contribution to the economy of the Scottish seed potato sector.

My officials and I are in regular contact with counterparts from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Scottish Government on a range of issues of importance to the seed potato sector in Scotland, including assessment of the contribution the sector makes to the economy.

The Scottish potato sector’s output contributes over £208 million to the economy. They are exported to over 40 countries worldwide.

The Scottish horticulture and potato sector accounts for a sixth, nearly 17% of Scottish agricultural output by value, despite using less than 1% of Scottish farmland. Scottish agriculture employs over 67,000 people and generates a gross output of £3.3 billion annually, directly resulting in a contribution of some £1.3 billion to the Scottish economy.