Mary Scanlon MSP elected co-convener of parliament whisky group
A NORTH MSP has been elected as co-convener of the first cross-party group on Scotch whisky to be established in the Scottish Parliament.
Mary Scanlon, a Scottish Conservative MSP for the Highlands and Islands, will take on the role.
"The iconic Scotch whisky industry provides so much to the Scottish economy through sales, jobs and tourism alone, it is important to have this group in the parliament. Distillers in Scotland produce brands renowned around the world that deliver £4 billion in added value to the Scottish economy each year, the industry supports 35,000 jobs across Scotland and has seen a 60 per cent increase in exports since 2000. These are just a few of the significant achievements from Scotch whisky and show why it plays such an important role in local and national economies," she said.
"Distillers in the Highlands have a great reputation for producing quality whisky and welcoming tourists from around the world to their excellent visitor attractions – it seemed natural as an MSP for the region to set up this group which will keep politicians from all parties across the length and breadth of Scotland aware of the current issues facing the industry and informing us how we can assist it further in the future."
She added: "There are 20 million casks of whisky maturing in warehouses across Scotland which shows the great future this product has. It will be important for the cross-party group to work with everyone in the industry to ensure Scotch whisky continues to grow as an industry and contribute so much to our economy."
A spokesperson from the Scottish Whisky Association added: "Every MSP has an interest in the success of the Scotch whisky industry whether that is via a local distillery, a farmer growing cereals or a glass or packaging manufacturer. The Scotch Whisky Association looks forward to working with MSPs of all parties on a broad range of matters including tourism, continued export success, encouraging responsible drinking, investment and delivering the industry’s environment strategy."
