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MP Financial Interest
Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Original Source (8th January 2024)
3. Gifts, benefits and hospitality from UK sources
Name of donor: Diageo
Address of donor: 16 Great Marlborough Street, London W1F 7HS
Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: Dinner, whisky tasting and meeting with Diageo's CEO for Labour MPs to showcase the importance of Scotch whisky, total value £320.28
Date received: 14 November 2023
Date accepted: 14 November 2023
Donor status: company, registration 23307

Scottish Parliament Written Question
S6W-27644
Monday 3rd June 2024

Asked by: Kerr, Liam (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - North East Scotland)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on (a) what the outcomes were of the Lifting the Spirit trial at Elgin in 2013 and (b) whether it was operationally successful, and what it did to build on that trial.

Answered by Hyslop, Fiona - Minister for Transport

The movement of freight is a commercial matter and the Scottish Government’s leadership in support for rail freight is outlined in our 2016 rail freight strategy, and put into practice with significant investment, a freight-first approach, and through our regulatory rail freight growth targets. The Lifting the Spirit Trial at Elgin in 2013 was led by regional transport partnership HITRANS, in partnership with the Scotch Whisky Association, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Moray Council and the EU Food Port. Their report is publicly available with lessons learnt. It is for the industry to lead on any follow up activities and Network Rail remains engaged with the industry through the Scotland Freight Joint Board and works with Freight Operating Companies and Freight End Users to enable modal shift to rail.

Scottish Government Publication (FOI/EIR release)
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate

Nov. 01 2023

Source Page: FM meetings: FOI Review
Document: Annex (PDF)

Found: Top lines on the Scotch Whisky sector  The Scotch Whisky industry is extremely valuable to the Scottish

Written Question
Whisky
Monday 23rd October 2023

Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support the whisky industry.

Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland

I am in regular contact with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues of importance to Scotland’s whisky industry.

Scotland’s whisky industry continues to go from strength to strength at home and abroad, and Scotch whisky is the UK’s premier food and drink export. I want Scottish producers to take full advantage of the new trade deals the UK Government is striking around the world.

In this vein, earlier this month I visited Vietnam, a key growth market for Scotch whisky, where along with representatives from the Scotch Whisky Association, I hosted a whisky reception for key business leaders in Hanoi.

Scottish Government Publication (FOI/EIR release)

Dec. 06 2023

Source Page: Correspondence and minutes regarding Jenny Gilruth and the Islay Ferry Committee: FOI release
Document: Annex B - FOI 202300343369 (PDF)

Found: • There are currently 141 operating Scotch Whisky distilleries across Scotland.

Departmental Publication (Transparency)
Scotland Office

Mar. 28 2024

Source Page: Ministerial Quarterly Transparency Return : Oct 2023 - Dec 2023
Document: Scotland Office - Ministerial Quarterly Transparency Returns - October - December 2023 : Meetings (PDF)

Found: Tourism Alliance, Association of British Insurers Property federation, UK Hospitality Scotland, The Scotch

Departmental Publication (News and Communications)
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Nov. 20 2023

Source Page: UK’s agri-food and drink attachés backing British food and drink
Document: UK’s agri-food and drink attachés backing British food and drink (webpage)

Found: an industry brunch hosted by NFU President Minette Batters, in addition to further meetings with the Scotch

Scottish Government Publication (FOI/EIR release)
Legal Services (Solicitor to the Scottish Government)

Jan. 25 2024

Source Page: Legal advice and counsel exceeding £50,000, 2017-23: FOI release
Document: FOI - 202300340493 - information released (PDF)

Found: Caveats 55,143.40£ Scotch Whisky Association 493,927.67£ Ross Estates Limited 155,774.75£ 64,362.30

Non-Departmental Publication (Policy paper)
HM Revenue & Customs

Dec. 21 2023

Source Page: Review of The Spirit Drinks (Costs of Verification) Regulations 2013
Document: Review of The Spirit Drinks (Costs of Verification) Regulations 2013 (webpage)

Found: verification schemes for Irish Whiskey, Irish Cream and Irish Poteen produced in Northern Ireland, Scotch

Select Committee
Chivas Brothers Ltd
 ACP0021 - UK accession to Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)

Written Evidence Oct. 24 2023

Inquiry: UK accession to Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
Inquiry Status: Closed
Committee: International Agreements Committee

Found: home to world famous brands including Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch